Global crude steel output up 29% in 2010

BRUSSELS (Commodity Online) : Global crude steel production climbed 29 percent in the first nine months of 2010 compared with same period in 2009, said International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF).

According to preliminary figures by the (ISSF), Total production for the first nine months of 2009 was 23 million metric tons (mmt). All major regions showed significantly higher production volumes in the reported period.

In Asia with China excluded, stainless steel production increased by 28% to 6.4 million tons. The growth rates of the individual producing countries in Asia were between 7 and roughly 40%.

Mainland China alone increased the stainless steel production in the first nine months of 2010 by 26.5% to 8.3 mmt, counting for about 36% of the world’s stainless steel production now. After the same period in 2009 China’s market share was at about 37%.

Western Europe/Africa is ranking number three under the world stainless producing areas. After nine months of 2010 this area achieved a 29.6% increase in stainless steel production. Total production was 6 mmt in this period.

In the Americas region, stainless crude steel production grew by 38.2% to 2 million tons in the first three quarters of the year. Production in the Eastern Europe region showed an increase of 44.2%, with just 0.25 mmt on an almost negligible low volume level.

Comparing quarter by quarter shows a strong recovery of stainless steel melting activities compared to 2009. All regions showed strongly increased melting volumes. However, the comparison of Q3/2010 and Q3/2009 shows a growth rate of 5.3%, which is much lower than the comparison of the growth rates in the previous quarters.

Second quarter was y-o-y +33.4% and first quarter was +57.8%. This is mainly due to the basics effect after the strong increased production already in the second half of 2009 emerging from the deepest production losses ever recorded.

The split by main stainless steel grades has seen increased market shares of chrome/manganese and chrome stainless steels on the expense of chrome/nickel stainless steels.

The increase of ferritic stainless steels is mainly due to the excellent performance of the global car industry. The market share of chrome-manganese steels has increased due to the over-proportional growing production of the private stainless steel producers in China.