Global stainless steel production in 2023 increased by 4.6% compared to 2022 to 58.444 million tonnes, while production declined in all major regions except China, according to a press release from the World Stainless Association (formerly the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF)).
According to the information, in Europe last year, stainless steel production decreased by 6.2% to 5.902 million tons by 2022, and in the United States – by 9.6% to 1.824 million tons.
In Asia (excluding China and South Korea), stainless steel production decreased by 7.2% to 6.880 million tons, while in China it increased by 12.6% to 36.676 million tons.
Other regions (Brazil, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and Indonesia) recorded a 5.2% decline in production to 7.163 million tons.
As reported, global stainless steel production in 2022 decreased by 5.2% to 55.255 million tons. At the same time, in Europe in 2022, production decreased by 12.4% to 6.294 million tons, and in the United States – by 14.8% to 2.017 million tons. In Asia (excluding China and South Korea), stainless steel production decreased by 4.9% to 7.411 million tons, while in China it fell by 2% to 31.975 million tons.
Other regions recorded a 9.1% decline in production to 7.557 million tons.
In February this year, Ukrainian steelmakers increased steel production by 25.5% compared to the same period in 2023, up to 532 thousand tons from 424 thousand tons.
At the same time, Ukraine was ranked 22nd in the ranking of 71 countries that are global producers of this product by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel).
According to Worldsteel, in February, steel production increased in most of the top ten countries, except for the United States, Russia and South Korea, in February 2023.
In January of this year, Ukrainian steelmakers increased steel production by 91.5% compared to the same period in 2022, up to 544 thousand tons from 284 thousand tons, and by 4.6% compared to the previous month, when 520 thousand tons were smelted.
At the same time, Ukraine retained its 21st place in the ranking of 71 countries that are global producers of these products compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel).
According to Worldsteel, in December 2023, steel production increased compared to January 2023 in most of the top ten countries, except for China, the United States, Germany and Brazil.
The top ten steel producing countries in January are as follows: China (77.240 million tons, down 6.9% by January 2023), India (12.514 million tons, up 7.3%), Japan (7.266 million tons, up 0.6%), the United States (6.801 million tons, down 0.3%), and the Russian Federation (6.240 million tons, up 1.2%), South Korea (5.711 million tons, up 1.5%), Turkey (3.247 million tons, up 24.7%), Germany (2.9 million tons, down 0.9%), Iran (2.603 million tons, up 39.3%) and Brazil (2.520 million tons, down 7.2%).
Overall, in January 2024, steel production decreased by 1.6% compared to the same period in 2023 to 148.108 million tons.
As reported, in December 2023, Ukraine increased steel production by 4.9 times compared to the same period in 2022, up to 520 thousand tons from 106 thousand tons, but decreased by 4.8% compared to the previous month, when 546 thousand tons were smelted. The top ten steel producing countries in December were as follows: China (67.440 million tons, down 14.9% by December 2022), India (12.141 million tons, + 9.5%), Japan (6.980 million tons, +1.1%), the United States (6.813 million tons, +7.6%), the Russian Federation (6 million tons, +4.3%), South Korea (5.375 million tons, +2.7%), Turkey (3.224 million tons, +21.2%), Iran (2.872 million tons, +12.1%), Germany (2.631 million tons, -2.3%) and Brazil (2.523 million tons, +0.9%).
Overall, in December 2023, steel production decreased by 5.3% compared to the same period in 2022 to 135.666 million tons.
In 2023, the top ten steel-producing countries are as follows: China (1 billion 19.080 million tons at the level of the previous year), India (140.171 million tons, +11.8%), Japan (86.996 million tons, -2.5%), the United States (80.664 million tons, +0.2%), the Russian Federation (75.8 million tons, +5, 6%), South Korea (66.676 million tons, +1.3%), Germany (35.438 million tons, -3.9%), Turkey (33.714 million tons, -4%), Brazil (31.869 million tons, -6.5%) and Iran (31.139 million tons, +1.8%).
In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 849.734 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.1% less than in 2022.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 6.228 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.6% lower than in 2022. The country was ranked 22nd in 2023.
In 2022, the top ten steel producing countries were as follows: China (1.013 billion tons, -2.1%), India (124.720 million tons, +5.5%), Japan (89.235 million tons, -7.4%), the United States (80.715 million tons, -5.9%), the Russian Federation (71.5 million tons, -7.2%), South Korea (65, 865 million tons, -6.5%), Germany (36.849 million tons, -8.4%), Turkey (35.134 million tons, -12.9%), Brazil (33.972 million tons, -5.8%) and Iran (30.593 million tons, +8%).
Ukraine ranked 23rd in 2022 with 6.263 million tons of steel produced (-70.7%).
In total, 64 countries produced 1 billion 831.467 million tons of steel in 2022, which is 4.3% less than in 2021.
In December 2023, Ukrainian steelmakers increased steel production by 4.9 times compared to the same period in 2022 – up to 520 thousand tons from 106 thousand tons, but decreased by 4.8% compared to the previous month, when 546 thousand tons were smelted.
At the same time, Ukraine retained its 21st place in the ranking of 71 countries that are global producers of these products compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel).
According to Worldsteel, in December 2023, steel production increased compared to December 2022 in most of the top ten countries, except for China and Germany.
The top ten steel producing countries in December are as follows: China (67.440 million tons, down 14.9% by December 2022), India (12.141 million tons, + 9.5%), Japan (6.980 million tons, + 1.1%), the United States (6.813 million tons, + 7.6%), the Russian Federation (6 million tons, + 4.3%), South Korea (5.375 million tons, +2.7%), Turkey (3.224 million tons, +21.2%), Iran (2.872 million tons, +12.1%), Germany (2.631 million tons, -2.3%) and Brazil (2.523 million tons, +0.9%).
Overall, in December 2023, steel production decreased by 5.3% compared to the same period in 2022 to 135.666 million tons.
In 2023, the top ten steel-producing countries are as follows: China (1 billion 19.080 million tons at the level of the previous year), India (140.171 million tons, +11.8%), Japan (86.996 million tons, -2.5%), the United States (80.664 million tons, +0.2%), the Russian Federation (75.8 million tons, +5, 6%), South Korea (66.676 million tons, +1.3%), Germany (35.438 million tons, -3.9%), Turkey (33.714 million tons, -4%), Brazil (31.869 million tons, -6.5%) and Iran (31.139 million tons, +1.8%).
In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 849.734 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.1% less than in 2022.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 6.228 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.6% lower than in 2022. The country was ranked 22nd in 2023.
As reported, in 2022, the top ten steel-producing countries were as follows: China (1.013 billion tons, -2.1%), India (124.720 million tons, +5.5%), Japan (89.235 million tons, -7.4%), the United States (80.715 million tons, -5.9%), the Russian Federation (71.5 million tons, -7.2%), South Korea (65, 865 million tons, -6.5%), Germany (36.849 million tons, -8.4%), Turkey (35.134 million tons, -12.9%), Brazil (33.972 million tons, -5.8%) and Iran (30.593 million tons, +8%).
Ukraine ranked 23rd in 2022 with 6.263 million tons of steel produced (-70.7%).
In total, 64 countries produced 1 billion 831.467 million tons of steel in 2022, which is 4.3% less than in 2021.
In 2023, Zaporizhzhia-based Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works increased its rolled steel output by 57.2% compared to 2022, to 2 million 54.7 thousand tons.
According to the company’s information on Friday, steel production for the year increased by 65.4% to 2 million 466.9 thousand tons, and pig iron production by 35.3% to 2 million 718.9 thousand tons.
In 2023, the plant operated at an average of 70% of its capacity.
In December, Zaporizhstal produced 265.5 thousand tons of iron, 228.6 thousand tons of steel, and shipped 206.5 thousand tons of rolled products, compared to 262.7 thousand tons of iron, 240.8 thousand tons of steel, and 195.6 thousand tons of rolled products in the previous month, and 141.9 thousand tons of iron, 70.7 thousand tons of steel, and 57.7 thousand tons of rolled products in December 2022.
“The increase in production in December 2023 compared to December 2022 is due to the removal of blast furnace No. 2 from hot mothballing and the establishment of three blast furnaces,” the press release explains.
As noted, enemy shelling and destruction, interruptions in the supply of raw materials and energy, and disruption of logistics routes for the export of finished products due to the blockade of seaports in 2023 led to a reduction in steel and rolled products production at Zaporizhstal compared to pre-war levels. However, compared to 2022, the steelmaker increased production of steel products by increasing capacity utilization, finding new logistics routes for raw materials and sales, and expanding its product portfolio.
“The implemented anti-crisis solutions allowed us to stabilize the production process and refocus on more efficient work in the ever-changing wartime environment, maintain production and retain our team. In 2024, we plan to maintain production volumes, and, given the favorable conditions on foreign markets and demand for rolled steel in the domestic market, to increase production capacity utilization,” said Roman Slobodianiuk, CEO of Zaporizhstal, as quoted by the press service.
As reported, in 2022, Zaporizhstal reduced its rolled steel output by 60.4% compared to 2021, to 1 million 304.3 thousand tons, steel by 61.7%, to 1 million 491.3 thousand tons, and pig iron by 54.3%, to 2 million 9.9 thousand tons.
“Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, whose products are in great demand among consumers both in the domestic market and in many countries of the world.
“Zaporizhstal is in the process of integration into Metinvest Group, whose major shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Holding Group (23.76%).
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
In January-November of this year, Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works increased its rolled steel output by 47.9% year-on-year to 1 million 847.9 thousand tons.
According to the company’s information on Friday, steel production during this period increased by 57.6% to 2 million 238.3 thousand tons, and pig iron production by 31.3% to 2 million 453.2 thousand tons.
In November 2023, Zaporizhstal produced 262.7 thousand tons of iron, 240.8 thousand tons of steel, and shipped 195.6 thousand tons of rolled products, compared to 267.3 thousand tons of iron, 251.7 thousand tons of steel, and 208.6 thousand tons of rolled products in the previous month, and 143.9 thousand tons of iron, 85.8 thousand tons of steel, and 74.8 thousand tons of rolled products in November 2022.
“The increase in production in November 2023 compared to the same period last year is due to the removal of blast furnace No. 2 from hot mothballing and the establishment of three blast furnaces,” the press release explains.
As a reminder, due to the escalation of hostilities in the region, Metinvest Group put some of Zaporizhstal’s equipment into hot mothballing mode in early March 2022. At the end of March of the same year, the plant partially resumed the operation of its cold rolling mill to produce and ship cold-rolled coils to European customers. A month after the forced shutdown, the plant brought its equipment out of mothballing and partially resumed production. The plant is currently operating at an average of 70% of its capacity.
As reported, in 2022, Zaporizhstal reduced its rolled steel output by 60.4% compared to 2021, to 1 million 304.3 thousand tons, steel by 61.7%, to 1 million 491.3 thousand tons, and pig iron by 54.3%, to 2 million 9.9 thousand tons.
“Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, whose products are in great demand among consumers both in the domestic market and in many countries around the world. The plant specializes in high-quality steel hot-rolled coils, hot-rolled sheets, cold-rolled sheets, cold-rolled coils made of carbon and low-alloy steels, as well as steel strips, ferrous tin, and bent sections.
The main consumers of the products are producers of welded pipes, automotive, transport and agricultural machinery companies, and manufacturers of household appliances.
“Zaporizhstal is in the process of integration into Metinvest Group, whose major shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Holding Group (23.76%).
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
