World Steel Production Topped 1.4 Billion Tons Last Year

The world’s steelmakers produced a total of 1.41 billion metric tons of steel in 2010, up nearly 15 percent from 1.23 billion in 2009, according to the Brussels-based World Steel Association, which just released its 2011 edition of World Steel in Figures.

In 2010, the five biggest steel-producing countries were: China, 626.7 million metric tons; Japan, 109.6 million tons; the United States, 80.5 million tons; India, 68.3 million tons; and Russia, 66.9 million tons.

The five biggest steel-producing companies (worldsteel members only) were: ArcelorMittal, 98.2 million metric tons; Baosteel, 37.0 million tons; POSCO, 35.4 million tons; Nippon Steel, 35.0 million tons; and JFE, 31.1 million tons.

Worldsteel’s short-range outlook for 2011 and 2012 forecasts that apparent steel use will increase by 5.9 percent to nearly 1.36 billion metric tons in 2011. In 2012, the trade group forecasts that world steel demand will grow by a further 6.0 percent to reach a new record of 1.44 billion tons. Steel use in the developed world will still be 14 percent below the 2007 level, while in the emerging and developing economies, it will be 38 percent above. In 2012, the emerging and developing economies will account for 72 percent of world steel demand, in contrast to 61 percent in 2007.

World Steel in Figures provides essential facts and statistics about the global steel industry. The book contains comprehensive information on crude steel production, apparent steel use, pig iron production, steel trade, iron ore production and trade, and scrap trade. It is available at www.worldsteel.org.