The World Steel Association (worldsteel) has released a report stating that production reached 1,691.2 million tons (Mt) for the year 2017, up by 5.3% compared to 2016. Crude steel production increased in all regions in 2017 except in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which has remained stable (subject to current estimates).
Crude steel production in North America was 116.0 Mt, 4.8% higher than in 2016. The US produced 81.6 Mt of crude steel, up by 4.0% on 2016. Annual crude steel production for South America was 43.7 Mt in 2017, an increase of 8.7% on 2016. Brazil produced 34.4 Mt in 2017, up by 9.9% compared to 2016.
In December 2017, world crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 138.1 Mt, an increase of 3.9% compared to December 2016. The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 66 countries in December 2017 was 69.5%. This is 1.8 percentage points higher than December 2016.
Graph courtesy of worldsteel