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World Stainless Production Hits New High in Q3 2010
01/25/2011 - World-wide stainless steel crude steel production reached 23 million tonnes in the first nine months of 2010, a 29% increase compared to the same period of 2009, according to the latest report from the International Stainless Steel Forum.
Preliminary figures released by the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) show that the world-wide stainless steel crude steel production reached 23 million tonnes in the first nine months of 2010, a 29% increase compared to the same period of 2009. All major regions showed significantly higher production volumes in the reported period.
In Asiawith China excluded, stainless steel production increased by 28% to 6.4 million tons. The growth rates of the individual producing countries in Asia were between 7 and roughly 40%. Mainland China increased stainless steel production by 26.5% to 8.3 million tonnes in the first nine months, representing about 36% of the world’s stainless steel production. As of the comparable period in 2009, China’s market share was at about 37%.
Western Europe/Africa produced 6 million tonnes in the first nine months of 2010, ranking it number three under the world stainless producing areas. This area achieved a 29.6% increase in stainless steel production in this period.
In The Americasregion, stainless crude steel production grew by 38.2% to 2 million tons in the first three quarters of the year. Production in the Eastern Europeregion showed an increase of 44.2%, with just 0.25 million tonnes on an almost negligible low volume level.
Comparing quarter by quarter shows a strong recovery of stainless steel melting activities compared to 2009. All regions showed strongly increased melting volumes. However, comparing Q3/2010 and Q3/2009 shows a growth rate of 5.3%, which is much lower than the comparison of the growth rates in the previous quarters.
· Q1 2009 vs. Q1 2010: +57.8%
· Q2 2009 vs. Q2 2010: +33.4%
· Q3 2009 vs. Q3 2010: +5.3%
According to the ISSF, this lower percentage increase is mainly due to the basics effect after the strong increased production already in the second half of 2009 emerging from the deepest production losses ever recorded.
The split by main stainless steel grades has seen increased market shares of chrome/manganese and chrome stainless steels on the expense of chrome/nickel stainless steels. The increase of ferritic stainless steels is mainly due to the excellent performance of the global car industry. The market share of chrome-manganese steels has increased due to the over-proportional growing production of the private stainless steel producers in China.
