World crude steel production reached 1 622.8 million t (Mt) for the year 2015, down by -2.8% compared to 2014. Crude steel production decreased in all regions except Oceania in 2015. Annual production for Asia was 1 113.8 Mt of crude steel in 2015, a decrease of -2.3% compared to 2014. China’s crude steel production in 2015 reached 803.8 Mt, down by -2.3% on 2014. China’s share of world crude steel production increased from 49.3% in 2014 to 49.5% in 2015. Japan produced 105.2 Mt in 2015, down by -5.0% compared to 2014. India’s crude steel production for 2015 was 89.6 Mt, up by 2.6% on 2014. South Korea produced 69.7 Mt of crude steel in 2015, a decrease of -2.6% compared to 2014.

In 2015, the EU (28) produced 166.2 Mt of crude steel, a decrease of -1.8% compared to 2014. Germany produced 42.7 Mt of crude steel in 2015, down by -0.6% over 2014. Italy produced 22.0 Mt in 2015, a decrease of -7.1% over 2014. France’s crude steel production in 2015 was 15.0 Mt, down by -7.2%. Spain produced 14.9 Mt of crude steel in 2015, an increase of 4.4% compared to 2014.

Crude steel production for 2015 in North America was 110.7 Mt, a decrease of -8.6% compared to 2014. The US produced 78.9 Mt of crude steel, down by -10.5% on 2014.

The CIS showed a decrease of -4.3% in 2015, producing 101.5 Mt of crude steel. Russia* produced 71.1 Mt of crude steel, down by -0.5% on 2014 and Ukraine* recorded a decrease of -15.6% with a year-end figure of 22.9 Mt.

Annual crude steel production for South America was 43.9 Mt in 2015, a decrease of -2.5% on 2014. Brazil produced 33.2 Mt in 2015, down by -1.9% compared to 2014.

In December 2015, world crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 126.7 Mt, a decrease of -5.7% compared to December 2014. The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 66 countries in December 2015 was 64.6%. This is -4.9 percentage points lower than December 2014. The average capacity utilisation in 2015 was 69.7% compared to 73.4% in 2014.

Quelle: worldsteel, Brussels