Global crude steel production in 2020 slipped 0.9 per cent year over year to 1.86 billion metric tonnes (mt) as rising output in Iran, Turkey and China almost fully offset losses in most other major steel-producing countries, the World Steel Association said in its latest report.

Iran posted the largest increase, with production climbing about 13.4 per cent year over year to an estimated 29 million mt in 2020. Overall production in the Middle East reached 45.4 million mt, a 2.5 per cent increase from 2019 numbers.

Among the world’s 10 largest steel producing nations, six produced less steel in 2020 compared with 2019, owing largely to the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent restraints on economic activity.

Total steel production falls to 1.86 billion mt

Total 2020 crude steel production in Asia grew 1.5 per cent year over year to 1.37 billion mt, bolstered by a 5.2 per cent increase in China’s steel output to 1.05 billion mt, thus remaining far and away the world’s biggest steelmaker.

China’s share of global crude steel production increased from 53.3 per cent in 2019 to 56.5 per cent in 2020, worldsteel said.

Other Asian countries reporting to worldsteel saw declines in steel production. Steel output fell 10.6 per cent to 99.6 million mt in India, 16.2 per cent to 83.2 million mt in Japan and 6 per cent to 67.1 million mt in South Korea.

Turkey’s crude steel production in 2020 was 35.8 million mt, up 6.0 per cent from 2019, worldsteel said.

Russia is estimated to have increased steel production by 2.6 per cent in 2020, reaching about 73.4 million mt. Overall, steel output in CIS countries rose 1.5 per cent to 102 million mt during the period.

Worldsteel said steel production decreased in the EU, the Americas and Oceania.

The EU’s crude steel output dropped 11.8 per cent year over year to 138.8 million mt, with production in Germany falling 10 per cent to 35.7 million mt.

Steel production slid 15.5 per cent to 101.1 million mt in North America and 8.4 per cent to 38.2 million mt in South America. The US produced 72.7 million mt (down 17.2 per cent) and Brazil produced 31 million mt (down 4.9 per cent).

Oceania produced 6.1 million mt of crude steel in 2020, down 1.4 per cent from 2019.