Global Steel Production Jumps 10.7% in December

World crude steel production grew in December, expanding for only the second time in seven months. Steelmakers around the world produced an estimated 158.7 million metric tons of crude steel in December, surging 10.7% or 15.4 million tons from the prior month, according to World Steel Association (worldsteel) data.

Steel production had been trending down since seeing repeated record-breaking output from March through May of last year. The downtrend had been accentuated by aggressive production cuts in China over that period, and December’s gains were no different. Chinese raw steel production grew by 24.4% or 16.9 million metric tons in December versus the prior month.

David Schollaert

David Schollaert is a senior analyst for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. Based in CRU’s Pittsburgh office, David can be reached at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

David Schollaert

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