According to the latest data released by the Swedish Steel Producers' Association (Jernkontoret), in December 2012 Swedish crude steel production amounted to 313,600 metric tons, decreasing by 16.2 percent year on year and down 8.9 percent as compared to November. The country's crude steel output has been declining on year-on-year basis since June 2011.
Meanwhile, in the whole year of 2012 Swedish crude steel production totaled 4.3 million mt, with a decrease of 11.1 percent compared to 2011.
Jernkontoret indicates that Swedish steel companies' deliveries of finished steel products (i.e., plate, strip, wire, rod, profiles and tubes) from Swedish steelworks amounted to 3.3 million mt in 2012, declining 15.6 percent compared to 2011. Most of the deliveries were destined for export markets.
Meanwhile, in the first 10 months of this year Sweden's exports of finished steel, including blooms and billets, amounted to 2.97 million mt, down 9.3 percent compared to the same period of 2011. Swedish finished steel imports in the first 10 months also totaled 2.97 million mt, down 8.1 percent compared to the same period of 2011.