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    July 22, 2015

    Global Steel Production and Capacity Utilization in June 2015

    Written by Peter Wright

    Global steel production in 12 months through June totaled 1.622 billion tonnes with a capacity of 2.2 billion tonnes. Capacity utilization on a three month moving average, (3MMA) basis was 71.6 percent, down from 72 percent in three months through May. China accounted for 50.8 percent of global production in June. Asia as a whole, including India, accounted for 68.2 percent.

    Production in June on a tons/day basis was 4.374 million tonnes, down from 4.490 in May. Tons/day declined in both May and June. The seasonal pattern evident since the recession is different in 2015. Total June production was 135.594 million tonnes. If we look at the three month moving average and plot it over time, we see that there has been a significant decline in the second half of the year since and including 2010 which usually extends into February, after which production kicks up rapidly (Figure 1).

    Peter Wright

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