By Paul Ploumis

ScrapMonster Author

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): According to latest statistics published by the World Steel Association, the world crude steel output by 67 countries reporting to the Association totaled 143.325 Million tonnes during May this year. The monthly output increased by 2.0% when compared with the output during the same month a year before. These 67 countries had accounted for approximately 99% of the total world crude steel production in 2016.

The following table lists world’s top ten nations with regards to total crude steel output during May 2017.

Also, the table given lists world’s ten leading crude steel producing nations during the initial five-month period from January to May this year.

Note: The above outputs are in thousand tonnes.

DRI production statistics

The preliminary data published by the World Steel Association indicates that the world direct reduced iron (DRI) production in May this year has declined marginally by nearly 0.4% when compared with the month before that.

The world DRI production during the month of May 2017 totaled 5.133 million metric tons, declining from the production of 5.155 million metric tons recorded during April this year.

According to World Steel data, Iran ranked first in DRI production during the month. India and Mexico were the second and third largest global DRI producers.

The estimated DRI output by Iran during May this year was 1.620 million metric tons. The country’s DRI output in May increased modestly by 3.5% when compared with the previous month. The DRI output by Iran had totaled 1.565 million metric tons during the previous month. India’s DRI production in May 2017 totaled 1.270 million metric tons, rising by 3.5% when compared with the previous month output of 1.227 million metric tons. The Mexican DRI output in May this year amounted to 545,000 metric tons, which is slightly higher than 527,000 metric tons output recorded during April this year.

The DRI output (in thousand metric tons) by the other eleven countries in May 2017 is as follows: Canada (144), Saudi Arabia (400), Trinidad & Tobago (Nil), Argentina (142), Peru (Nil), Venezuela (55), Egypt (320), Libya (54), South Africa (93), Qatar (219) and United Arab Emirates (272).

The World Steel production figures are based on the figures collected from 14 countries, which accounted for approximately 85% of the global DRI production in 2015.

Cumulative DRI output

The table given below provides the list of world’s top ten DRI producers during the initial five-month period of 2017.

Note: The above outputs are in thousand tonnes.