World steel production remains at last year's level

In May 2016, the world produced 139.154 million tonnes of steel, just 0.1 percent less than last year, according to the World Steel Association.

China, which produces about half of the world's steel, increased output by 1.8 percent to 70.504 million tonnes. Among the Asian giants, an increase was also recorded in India, where output was 8.044 million tons, up 4.9 percent from last year. In Japan, a decline was recorded by 0.9 percent to 8.841 million tons. Production also fell in South Korea to 5.807 million tons, down 3.5 percent. less than last year.

During the reporting period, steel production in Russia increased by 0.4 percent and amounted to 5.952 million tons. In Ukraine, there was an increase in steel production by 5.7 percent to 2.297 million tons. A fall of 27.1 percent was recorded by Belarus, where 175 thousand tons of steel were produced in May.

The European Union cut its output in May by 5.5 percent and produced to 14.4581 million tons. The EU's largest producers, Germany and Italy, were up 4.0 percent to 3.858 million tonnes and 9.3 percent to 2.187 million tonnes, respectively. Production fell in Spain by 10.6 percent to 1.254 million tons and in France by 18.8 percent to 1.173 million tons. Poland with production at the level of 795 thousand tons recorded a decline of 11.2 percent.

In Iran, production increased by as much as 13.0 percent, reaching 1.645 million tons. In Turkey, production increased by 5.4 percent to 3.041 million tons. The United States produced about 6.82 million tonnes of steel, down 0.4 percent on an annualized basis. In Brazil, production in May is 2.59 million tons, up 13.2 percent. less than a year earlier. Production also fell in Mexico to 1.575 million tonnes.

Capacity utilization in May 2016 increased by 1 percentage point compared to May last year, amounting to 71.3 percent, and compared to April of this year, there was a decrease of 0.1 percent.