Figures released by the International Iron and Steel Institute show that world crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting stood at an estimated 117.2 million tonnes in July 2008 — 6.2% higher than for the same month of 2007, but 1.6% lower than the previous month (June 2008).
A significant factor in the lower total production vs. June was a 4.4% drop in production over the period for China, which contributed 38.3% of the July crude steel production total. Excluding China’s production, world production grew by 5.4% in July compared to July 2007, and virtually unchanged (+0.16%) from the previous month (June 2008).
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World Steel Production, July '08
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Region
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% of July '08 Total
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Change vs. July '07
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EU (27)
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15.2%
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+4.1%
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Other EU
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2.5%
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+9.7%
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CIS
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9.0%
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+2.2%
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N. America
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9.9%
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+7.1%
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S. America
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3.8%
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+12.8%
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Africa
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1.3%
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+0.2%
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Middle East
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1.1%
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+0.9%
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Asia
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56.6%
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+7.1%
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Oceania
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0.6%
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-6.2%
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World
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--
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+6.2%
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For the first seven months of 2008, total world crude steel production reached 815,119 million tonnes, a 6.1% increase over the first seven months of 2007. Of that 815-million-tonne seven-month total, China produced 308.3 million tonnes of crude steel (37.8% of the seven-month total), its total reflecting an increase of 9.3% compared to the same period in 2007.
Weighing in at 56.6% of total world production for July 2008, production in Asia stood at 66.4 million tonnes in June, 7.1% higher than in July 2007. Representing 38.3% of world production for July, Chinese production was reported at 44.9 million tonnes in July, a 7.5% increase compared to July 2007, and a 4.4% fall compared to the previous month (June 2008).
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU(27)) produced 17.8 million tonnes of crude steel in July, up 4.1% from July 2007. Comparing July 2008 to July 2007, crude steel production increased by 26.9% in Spain and 25.0% in Greece, but fell by 18.2% in Bulgaria andby 6.8% in Slovakia. Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 15.2% of the total reported world production in July 2008.
Production in Other Europe totaled 2.9 million tonnes in July, an increase of 9.7% compared to July 2007. Serbia and Switzerlandshowed the largest increases (+13.9% and +13.2%, respectively), while production fell by 57.4% in Norway. Altogether, these countries contributed 2.5% of the total reported world production in July 2008.
Production in the countries of the CIS totaled 10.6 million tonnes in July, reflecting a 2.2% increase compared to July 2007. The Ukraine and Uzbekistan reported the largest increases (+5.8% and +5.5%, respectively) and Moldova and Kazakhstan reported the largest decreases (–12.1% and -7.4%) over the period. Altogether, these countries contributed 9.0% of the total reported world production in July 2008.
North American production totaled 11.6 million tonnes in July, a 7.1% increase compared to July 2007. Comparing July 2008 to July 2007, the largest percentage increases were recorded in Cuba (+145.1%), El Salvador (+34.6%) and Canada (+24.4%), while production fell by 3.7% in Trinidad and Tobago. Altogether, the North American countries contributed 9.9% of the total reported world production in July 2008.
South American production for July 2008 totaled 4.5 million tonnes, a 12.8% increase compared to July 2007. The largest percentage increases took effect in Peru (+52.0%) and Argentina (+48.3%), while Paraguay (-38.1%) Columbia (-10.9%) logged the greatest percentage decreases. Altogether, the South American countries contributed 3.8% of the total reported world production in July 2008.
Production in Africa totaled 1.5 million tonnes in July 2008, a negligible 0.2% increase compared to July 2007. Comparing July 2008 to July 2007, Morocco and South Africa reported the largest increases (+26.5% and +17.6%, respectively), while production fell most significantly in Zimbabwe (-100%) and Algeria (-50.9%) over the same period. The African countries contributed 1.3% of the total reported world production in July 2008.
Production in the Middle East totaled 1.25 million tonnes in July 2008, a 0.9% increase compared to July 2007. Comparing July 2008 to July 2007, production increased by 39.7% in Qatar and fell by 4.4% in Iran. Altogether, the countries of the Middle East contributed 1.1% of the total reported world production in July 2008.
Production in Oceania totaled 0.70 million tonnes in July, a 6.2% decrease compared to July 2007. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed 0.6% of the total reported world production in July 2008.
Total world production for July fell 1.6% compared to the previous month, June 2008.