North American steel production fell 6.7 percent in May

North American steel production fell 6.7 percent during the month of May on an annualized basis, according to the latest data released by the World Steel Association. Steel output amounted to 9.545 million tons in May 2015, while in May 2014 the output was 10.225 million tons.

Total crude steel production in Canada in May this year was 1.155 million tonnes, significantly lower than the 1.067 million tonnes produced in May 2014. The drop in output in Canada was 8.3 percent. The United States produced 6.837 million tonnes of steel, significantly lower than the 7.471 million tonnes achieved during May 2014. The drop in US production was 8.5 percent. Mexico's total crude steel production fell 7.9 percent to 1.455 million tonnes in May this year, compared with an output of 1.580 million tonnes in May 2014.

Cuba's steel production jumped 35.3 percent year-on-year to 30,000 tonnes in May this year. El Salvador's steel output is estimated at 10,000 tonnes in May this year, up nearly 9.0 percent from 9,000 tonnes a year earlier. Guatemala produced 30,000 tonnes of steel products in May, which is comparable to production in the same month a year earlier. Trinidad and Tobago's steel production plunged more than 40 percent in May this year to 28,000 tonnes, up from 46,000 tonnes of steel in the same month last year.

Cumulative steel production in the first five months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014: United States - 33.129 million tons, down 8.6 percent; Canada - 5.305 million tons, an increase of 3.1 percent; Cuba - 0.117 million tons, an increase of 5.6 percent; El Salvador - 0.044 million tons, an increase of 1.5 percent; Guatemala - 0.139 million tons, a drop of 0.3; Mexico - 7.534 million tons, a fall of 6, 8 percent; Trinidad and Tobago - 0.145 million tons, down 37.5 percent.