According to a report released by the South East Asia Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI), in 2013 apparent steel consumption in the ASEAN region increased by 7.7 percent year on year to 63.1 million mt, while fell down from the growth rate of 11.8 percent recorded in 2012. In the given year, domestic steel supply in the region increased by 0.1 percent to 25.5 million mt, while steel imports surged 11.4 percent to 44.9 million mt and steel exports increased by 1.2 percent to 7.3 million mt, all on year-on-year basis.
Meanwhile, last year Australia's apparent steel consumption decreased by 17.1 percent year on year to below 6 million mt. Domestic production in the country decreased by almost 680,000 mt to 4.4 million mt, while steel imports also declined 21 percent to 2.2 million mt and steel exports contacted by 1.8 percent to 583,000 mt, all on year-on-year basis.
In 2013, South Korea's steel consumption dropped by 3.7 percent to 54.5 million mt and domestic steel production in the country fell 2.6 percent to 65 million mt, both year on year. Compared to 2012, last year South Africa's steel imports also decreased by 6.2 percent to 16 million mt while export dipped by 2.6 percent to 26.6 million mt.
In addition, last year Taiwan's steel demand declined one percent to 17.8 million mt, while domestic steel production in the country stagnated at 24 million mt, steel import rose sharply by 21 percent to 4 million mt and steel exports also increased by eight percent 10 million mt, all on year-on-year basis.
Meanwhile, in 2013 Japan's steel demand increased by 2.1 percent to 65.7 million mt. Compared to 2012, last year Japanese domestic steel output surged by 2.3 percent to 97 million mt, steel imports declined by 4.2 percent to 4.8 million mt and steel exports increased by 1.6 percent to 36 million mt.