By Carolina Curiel

ScrapMonster Author

BRUSSELS (Scrap Monster): According to the most recent statistics published by the World Steel Association, the crude steel production by 66 member countries was 132.909 million tonnes (Mt) in September this year, rising by 2.0% in comparison with the production of 130.272 Mt during same month a year before.

South America

The crude steel production by South American countries dropped significantly during the month of September this year. The total monthly output declined by 4.2% to 3.274 Million tonnes.

The total crude steel production by Argentina during September was 322,000 tonnes, down considerably by 27.8% in comparison with the September 2015 production of 446,000 tonnes. Brazil produced 2.578 Million tonnes of crude steel, higher by 3.1% when compared with 2.501 Million tonnes production achieved during September last year. The Chilean September crude steel production surged higher by nearly 19% to 95,000 tonnes in September this year. The total crude steel production by Colombia was down by 19% to 100,000 tonnes in September this year.

Ecuador’s crude steel output dropped significantly by 26.1% on year-on-year basis. The crude steel output by Ecuador was 50,000 tonnes in September this year, down when compared with 68,000 tonnes during September last year.  Paraguay’s crude steel output dropped sharply by 35.5% during the month.

The crude steel output by Peru recorded modest rise of 8.1% year-on-year. The crude steel output of Uruguay witnessed decline of 42.4% when compared with the year before levels. Venezuelan production dropped considerably by 78.8% year-on-year from 94,000 tonnes to just around 20,000 tonnes.

North America

The crude steel production by North American countries dropped by 4.7% during the month of September year-on-year. The production totaled 8.943 Mt during the month.

The total crude steel production by Canada during September this year was 980,000 tonnes, slightly down by 1.9% when compared with the September 2015 production. The US produced 6.308 Million tonnes of crude steel, slightly lower by 3.8% when compared with 6.557 Million tonnes production achieved during September 2015. The total crude steel production by Mexico edged lower by 5.5% from 1.694 Mt in September ‘15 to 1.600 Mt in September this year.

The Cuban crude steel production decreased sharply by around 24% year-on-year to 20,000 tonnes. The crude steel output by El Salvador was estimated at 10,000 tonnes in September this year, down by nearly 13% when compared with September last year. Guatemala produced 25,000 tonnes in September. The crude steel output by Trinidad & Tobago nosedived to zero in September this year from 57,000 tonnes during same month the previous year.

Asia

The crude steel production by Asia rose by 3.7% during the month of September 2016 year-on-year.

The total crude steel production by China during September was 68.170 Million tonnes, rising by 3.9% when compared with the production of 66.611 Mt during September 2015. India produced 7.880 Million tonnes of crude steel, higher by 8.5% when compared with 7.264 Million tonnes production achieved during September last year.

Japan reported 1.5% decline in monthly crude steel output during the month. Japan's crude steel output dropped from 8.570 Million tonnes in September 2015 to 8.442 Million tonnes in the same month this year.

South Korean crude steel production increased slightly by 1.1% from 5.654 Million tonnes in September 2015 to 5.716 Million tonnes in September this year. Meantime, Pakistan’s crude steel output totaled 260,000 tonnes during the month.

The Taiwanese Apr ‘16 crude steel output rose 10.0% year-on-year to 1.770 Million tonnes from 1.609 Million tonnes during same month last year. Also, Thailand’s crude steel output increased by 4.3% from 326,000 tonnes during September last year to almost 340,000 tonnes this year.

Africa

The crude steel production by the African region marked 2.4% jump during the month of September year-on-year.

Egypt produced 365,000 tonnes of crude steel, lower by 5.0% when compared to 384,000 tonnes production achieved during September 2015. Libya’s crude steel output surged to 15,000 tonnes during the month of September this year, when matched with nil production during the same month a year before. Morocco’s output surged nearly five-folds to 45,000 tonnes, when compared to 9,000 tonnes production achieved during September 2015. South Africa’s crude steel output declined marginally by 2.7% to 430,000 tonnes during the month when matched with the production figures of 442,000 tonnes during the same month a year before.

Other regions

The crude steel production by the Middle East region increased by 6.3% during the month of September ’16 year-on-year. EU-28 region recorded marginal decline of 1.7% in crude steel output during September this year. The output by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) dropped by 3.5% during the month. Also, Oceania region recorded 5.5% jump in output.

Jan-Sep ’16 cumulative output

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output for the first nine months of 2016 in comparison with those during same period in 2015.

Note: The above outputs are in thousands of tonnes.