[Ferro-Alloys.com] World crude steel production reached 1,662 million tonnes (Mt) for the year 2014, up by 1.2% compared to 2013. In 2014, the Middle East, the smallest region for crude steel production had the most robust growth. Crude steel production in the EU (28), North America and Asia grew modestly in 2014 compared to 2013, while in the C.I.S. and South America it decreased.

Annual production for Asia was 1,132.3 Mt of crude steel in 2014, an increase of 1.4% compared to 2013. China’s* crude steel production in 2014 reached 822.7 Mt, an increase of 0.9% on 2013. China’s share of world crude steel production decreased from 49.7% in 2013 to 49.5% in 2013. Japan produced 110.7 Mt in 2014, a 0.1% increase from 2013. South Korea’s crude steel production was 71.0 Mt, an increase of 7.5% compared to 2013.

The EU recorded an increase of 1.7% compared to 2013, producing 169.2 Mt of crude steel in 2014. Germany produced 42.9 Mt of crude steel in 2014, up by 0.7% over 2013. Italy produced 23.7 Mt in 2014, a -1.4% decrease over 2013. France’s crude steel production in 2014 was 16.1 Mt, an increase of 2.9%. Spain produced 14.2 Mt of crude steel in 2013, a decrease of -0.6% compared to 2013.

In 2014, crude steel production in North America was 121.2 Mt, an increase of 2.0% on 2013. The US produced 88.3 Mt of crude steel, up by 1.7% compared to 2013.

In December 2014, world crude steel production for the 65 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 133.7 Mt, an increase of 0.1% compared to December 2013. The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 65 countries in December 2014 was 72.7%. It is 2.4 percentage points lower than December 2013. The average capacity utilisation in 2014 was 76.7% compared to 78.4% in 2013.