By P. Sarojini
Mumbai, India (CWBN)_ India’s crude steel output has increased marginally by 0.9 per cent to 9.058 million tons (MT) in October 2020 compared to 8.981 MT in October 2019, according to the World Steel Association (worldsteel). The global body reported that the total crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to worldsteel was 161.890 MT in October 2020 compared to 151.248 MT in October 2019; a 7 per cent increase.
Worldsteel stated that Covid-19 had affected the production widely. “Due to the ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, many of this month’s figures are estimates that may be revised with next month’s production update,” they said. A consolidated list of production data of all the countries reporting to the organisation was also published by the body.
Worldsteel data indicate that China’s crude steel output increased by 12.7 per cent to 92.202 MT during October 2020; in the corresponding period last year they produced only 81.781 MT. Alternatively, US crude steel production decreased by 15.3 per cent to 6.143 MT in October 2020, they produced 7.250 MT last year during the same period.
Japan’s crude steel production declined by 11.7 per cent to 7.200 MT compared to 8.150 MT last year during the same period. South Korea’s steel production decreased by 1.8 per cent to 5.859 MT in October 2020 compared to 5.964 MT in the same period last year. Germany’s steel production increased by 3.1 per cent to 3.417 MT; it was 3.315 MT in the same period a year ago. Italy’s production dropped down by 4.6 per cent to 2.119 MT in October 2020 as compared to 2.222 MT in the same period last year.
France’s steel output declined by 9.9 per cent when compared to the same period last year and stood at 1.065 MT this October. Spain’s crude steel production has also decreased by 7.7 per cent to 1.113 MT in October 2020 when compared to the corresponding period last year. Brazil produced 2.784 MT crude steel in October 2020, which is a 3.5 per cent rise compared to last year production. Turkey’s steel output for this October increased by 19.4 per cent to 3.208 MT (when compared to last October).
