BFI Global Exit Reaches High Level in 2017

Full production statistics for 2017 released by the World Steel Association point to marginal growth in blast furnace iron (BFI) production during the year compared to a year earlier. Global BFI output recovered to just over 1% in 2017. Production increased from 1.162 billion tonnes in 2016 to 1.175 billion tonnes in 2017.

In December 2017, China, the largest producer, provided the bulk of production in the Asian region, producing 54.723 million tonnes. Other leading Asian BFI producing countries were Japan (6.579 Mt), India (5.710 Mt) and South Korea (3.721 Mt).

In December 2017, the EU28 region recorded 7.995 million tonnes, higher than the 7.520 million tonnes recorded in the previous month. The key producer country was Germany, with an output of 2.405 million tonnes. Production of BFI products for the entire 2017 in the EU-28 countries amounted to 93.868 million tons.

During the month, BFI production was registered in the CIS region for a total of 6.445 million tonnes. Recorded marginal shift yield compared to last month's yield of 6,310 million tonnes The leading producer of BFI during the month was Russia with 4.320 million tonnes. Other key producers were Ukraine (1,800 million tonnes) and Kazakhstan (325 thousand tonnes). Annual production in the CIS region was 75.980 million tons.

North American BFI output rose marginally from 2.656 million tons in November-November to 2.700 million tons on December 17th. US production during the month was 1.780 million tonnes. The country's production throughout 2017 amounted to 22.335 million tons. During the past year, the entire North American region produced 32.915 million tonnes of BFI.

Meanwhile, South America's blast furnace production fell slightly from the previous month to 2.685 million tonnes on December 17th. The Oceania Region reported an increase in BFI production during the month.