Global stainless steel output stable in H1

In the first half of 2012, world stainless crude steel output stood almost stable at 17.2 million mt, with a slight decrease of just 0.2 percent compared to the same period of 2011, according to the preliminary report released by the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF).

According to the ISSF data, the biggest decrease appears to be in the Americas region with a 13.4 percent drop in production during the first half of 2012 compared to the same period last year. Total production is reported to be 1 million mt.

Excluding China, Asian stainless production in the first half increased by 2.2 percent to 4.5 million mt. While Korea and India showed increased production volumes, the stainless crude steel production saw a year-on-year decrease in Japan and Taiwan in the period in question. China increased its production in the first half of the year by 1.1 percent to 7.1 million mt compared to the first half of 2011.

Compared with the first quarter of 2012, there is some improvement in production in the second quarter of the year. All regions, except Western Europe/Africa, showed increased melting volumes in the second quarter compared to the previous quarter. China increased the stainless production quarter on quarter by 6.3 percent. Asia showed a quarter-on-quarter growth by 0.5 percent. The Americas reported a 0.9 percent increase in the period in question. Meanwhile, EuroAfrica reduced production significantly by 6.9 percent quarter-on-quarter.

ISSF also pointed that the globally achieved stainless crude steel volume of 8.66 million mt in the second quarter is the highest ever achieved production level for a second quarter.

Stainless crude steel production (x 1,000 metric tons):

* ISSF notes that it has made some amendments for the Chinese figure for 2011 in order to provide a better comparability.