Asia fuels global SS output in first 9 months
The International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) disclosed that global stainless crude steel production rose 1.1 percent year on year to 18.4 million metric tons in the first nine months of 2005. Asia is the only region to show positive growth over the first nine months of 2005. Stainless steel production in Asia rose 7.8 percent year on year to 9.4 million metric tons during January-September 2005 period. Driving forces were China and India. Other Asian producers showed flat or lower production figures. Stainless steel production in the Western Europe/Africa region fell 4.8 percent year on year to 6.7 million metric tons in the first nine months of the year. The Americas produced 2.1 million metric tons of stainless steel in the first three quarters of 2005. This indicates a year-on-year decrease of 5.4 percent. Production also fell in the Central and Eastern Europe region. Production fell 16.3 percent year on year to 191,000 metric tons in the first three quarters.Stainless crude steel production (in ’000 metric tons) 9 months Region 2004 2005 % Change Western Europe/Africa 7.017 6.679 -4.8 Central and Eastern Europe 228 191 -16.3 The Americas 2.178 2.060 -5.4 Asia 8.742 9.428 7.8 Total World 18.166 18.357 1.1