EU steel production drives growth in September

The production of unrefined steel EU-28 in September this year amounted to 13.785 million tons. Monthly steel production in the EU-28 recorded marginal growth in September this year. At the annual level, the volume of regional production increased by 2.7%. In addition, the cumulative production volume in 9 months increased by 4.1% over the previous year. At the same time, the output of some European countries increased by 12% during the month, and the output in January-September 2017 increased by 13.5% compared to the corresponding period last year.

The production of crude steel EU-28 in September this year amounted to 13.785 million tons (million tons). This is 2.7% higher compared to the output of 13.423 million tons in September last year.

Germany was the largest steel producer during the month. The country's output amounted to 3.510 million tons, which is 8.1% higher than in September last year, when 3.246 million tons were reached. France, the second largest producer in the region, reported a 3.2% increase in production over the previous year and its steel output was 1.322 million tonnes.

In third place was Italy with a production of 2.147 million tons of steel. The country's output rose sharply by more than 8% over the previous year. Other key producing countries were Spain 1,253 and Poland 880,000 tonnes. The five largest manufacturers accounted for more than 66% of the total monthly regional production.

Meanwhile, other European countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey, saw a sharp 12.2% jump in production in September. Monthly production in these countries amounted to 3.242 million tons against 2.889 million tons in September last year. Production in Turkey accounted for over 93% of the total regional production. Turkish steel production increased 13% from 2.655 million tonnes to 3.001 million tonnes over the previous year.

Aggregate steel production in other European countries in January-September 2017 increased by 13.5% to 30.017 million tonnes compared to the results for nine months of the previous year. Turkey continued to be the largest producer in the nine-month period with production of 27.742 million tonnes.