Steel production has grown in all Asian countries

All Asian countries saw an increase in steel production throughout 2014 as a whole, and a modest 1.2 percent increase in the region in December, according to the latest data released by the World Steel Association.

China's total crude steel production during December 2014 was 68.090 million tonnes, an increase of 1.5 percent compared to production of 67.083 million tonnes in December 2013. During the year, the country grew by 0.9 percent to 822.7 million tons on an annualized basis. India produced 7.071 million tonnes of steel, up 2.2 percent from 6.922 million tonnes in December 2013. Steel production in India for the year was up 2.3 percent to 83.208 million tonnes.

In December, Japan reported a decline in crude steel output. Steel production in Japan fell from 9.339 million tons in December 2013 to 8.999 million tons in the same month last year. However, throughout 2014, the steel output in Japan still increased by 0.1 percent to 110.665 million tons.

South Korea's steel production in December 2014 decreased 1.6 percent to 5.766 million tonnes from 5.861 million tonnes in December 2013. At the same time, during 2014, steel production in the country increased significantly. The growth was 7.5 percent on an annualized level to 71.036 million tons.

Taiwan increased steel production in December 2014 by more than 17.9 percent to 2.170 million tonnes from 1.841 million tonnes in the same month in 2013. Throughout the year, steel output increased by 4.3 percent to 23.250 million tons.