Global Steel Production and Capacity Utilization in September 2015

Global steel production in 12 months through September totaled 1.613 billion tonnes with a capacity of 2.3 billion tonnes. Capacity utilization in September was 69.3 percent with a three month moving average (3MMA) of 69.1 percent, down from 72.2 percent in three months through April. China accounted for 50.5 percent of global production in September. Asia as a whole, including India, accounted for 68.6 percent. Production in September on a tons/day basis was 4.365 million tonnes, down from 4.518 in April which was the highest month of the year.

The seasonal pattern evident since the recession is subdued this year. Total September production was 130.938 million tonnes. If we look at the three month moving average and plot it over time we see that there has been a significant decline in the second half of the year since and including 2010 which usually extends into February of the next year, after which production kicks up rapidly (Figure 1).