Steel Mills
Global steel production declined in April
Written by Brett Linton
May 22, 2024
Global steel output in April fell 3.1% from March’s 10-month high, according to the World Steel Association’s (worldsteel) latest data.
Steel mills around the world produced an estimated 155.7 million metric tons (mt) of steel last month. April production was 5.1% less than the same time one year prior. For reference, global production averaged 153.9 million mt per month last year and 152.4 million mt in 2022.
On a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis, production eased to 155.2 million mt through April, down 0.5% from March’s 7-month peak.
On a daily basis, April production averaged 5.19 million mt per day, 0.2% percent higher than March’s daily rate. This is now the highest daily production rate seen since last June when it was 5.35 million mt. Daily production was 5.1% lower than the same month one year ago.
Regional breakdown
The world’s top steel maker, China, produced 85.9 million mt last month, down 2.7% from March’s eight-month high. April production was down 7.2% year-on-year (y/y). For comparison, China produced an average of 84.4 million mt of steel per month in 2023, up from 84.1 million mt in 2022. Chinese production represented 55.2% of the world’s total output in April, up from 55.0% the month prior but down from 56.5% the same month last year.
Meanwhile, steel output in the rest of the world (ROW) decreased 3.5% from March to April. Production in these regions totaled 69.8 million mt for the month, down 2.2% y/y. Monthly production in the ROW averaged 69.4 million mt last year and 68.3 million mt the year prior.
Looking at production by country, Indian mills held the number two spot in April, producing 12.1 million mt of steel. Next up was Japan at 7.1 million mt, followed by the US at 6.7 million mt and Russia at 6.2 million mt.
Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Mills
Domestic mill shipments slip in July: AISI
US steel shipments decreased month over month in July, but were up from last year, according to the latest figures from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Nippon and USS drop litigation vs. USW and Cliffs
Another chapter of the Great U.S. Steel Buyout of the 2020s melodrama has closed, with all involved parties terminating the litigation disputes between them.
Steel Summit: Analysts say demand likely to struggle until 2027
Steel industry analysts at this year's SMU Steel Summit said they see lackluster demand through this year and next.
USS Clairton begins full production of batteries 19 and 20, 13 and 14 hot idled
U.S. Steel has activated batteries 19 and 20 at its Clairton Coke Works facility after pausing each “out of an abundance precaution” following an explosion at the site on Aug. 11.
Steel Summit: Schneider sees SDI ‘on the edge of a very good run’
Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) President and Chief Operating Officer, Barry Schneider, remains bullish about the Fort Wayne, Ind.-based steelmaker’s position in the current market.