Global steel production continued to decline in May

According to the latest statistics published by the World Steel Association, steel production from the 65 member countries was 139.308 million tonnes in May 2015, down 2.1 percent from 142.317 million tonnes in the same month last year. ...

Total crude steel production in the EU-28 countries reached 15.086 million tonnes in May this year, up 0.7 percent from the production of 14.98 million tonnes in May 2014. The rest of European countries smelted 3.128 million tonnes of steel, down 2.5 percent from 3.208 million tonnes of steel products achieved during May 2014. Steel production in the CIS countries decreased by 7.6 percent to 8.992 million tons compared to 9.730 million tons in the corresponding period last year. Total crude steel production in North America declined sharply. The fall was 6.7 percent of 9.545 million tons in May this year, compared with 10.225 million tons in May 2014.

Total crude steel production in the South American region increased 0.6 percent in May this year to 3.829 million tonnes. African countries smelted 1.143 million tonnes of steel, down 2.2 percent from 1.169 million tonnes achieved in May 2014. Total crude steel production in the Middle East was 2.506 million tonnes in May this year, up slightly 0.6 percent from 2.490 million tonnes in May 2014. Asian steel production fell 1.8 percent to 94.551 million tons from 96.271 million tons last May. Oceania's total crude steel production increased sharply by 21.4 percent to 0.530 million tonnes in May this year, up from 0.437 million tonnes in May 2014.

Cumulative steel production in thousands of tonnes in the first five months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014 (percentage): EU-28 - 73,216 (-0.1); Other European countries - 14388 (-4.7); CIS (6) - 42648 (-5.6); North America - 46,412 (-7.2); South America 18,573 (-0.2) Africa - 5995 (-7.7); Middle East - 11805 (2.4); Asia - 460282 (-1.4); Oceania - 2348 (5.6).