Global Overview
Global Crude Steel Production ; Global Trade in Steel
Global Trade in Iron Ore ; Global Trade in Scrap
TRADE DATA
ISSB maintains a fully detailed database of the imports and exports of steel and steelmaking raw materials for more than 50 major steelmaking nations, collectively accounting for 97% of global steel output. This high level of coverage also allows an accurate assessment of the trade flows for those countries for which we cannot obtain national trade data.
Global Crude Steel Production
Despite the global recession 2009 saw global crude steel production fall just 7% to 1232 million tonnes with 15% growth in China largely offsetting an average 21% fall in the rest of the world.
All major producing regions showed falls in 2009 with the biggest falls hitting the most highly developed nations. The EU27 was down 30% with NAFTA 34% lower and Japan down 26% on 2008.
2010 saw global output total 1,419 million tonnes, 15% up on 2009 and 5% higher than the previous peak reached in 2007. Having recorded growth in 2009 China saw a below average 9% increase in output in 2010 while the average recovery on 2009 levels for the rest of the world was 20%.
In 2011 global output reached 1,515 million tonnes, 7% up on 2010 with Chinese ouput up by 9% and with the rest of the world averaging a 5% increase. 2011 production was 12% ahead of the 2007 pre-recession total driven by Chinese output up by 40% over the period. An average 3% fall elsewhere between 2007 and 2011 included EU27 down by 16%, the US down 12%, Japan lower by 10% and with CIS producers averaging a 9% fall, as traditonal steelmaking nations fared worse than average.
Below we summarise World Steel Association crude steel production data.
Global Trade in Steel
Exporters
Combined export shipments of steel mill products (semis, long & flat products, tubes) by the leading steel exporting nations, reached a peak in Quarter 3 2008 of 84 million tonnes before falling to a low of 52 million tonnes in Quarter 1 2009. The remainder of 2009 saw trade levels stage a partial recovery and Quarter 4 saw total exports of 66 million tonnes. Quarter 1 2010 saw exports fade slightly before a big rise to 75 million tonnes in Quarter 2 which saw Chinese exports at their 2010 peak. While exports faded to average 67 million tonnes in each of Quarters 3 and 4 exports levels across the full year were 17% higher than in 2009 driven by a 25% increase in the movement of flat products.
Importers
The big three steel importers of recent times, EU27, USA and South Korea saw import levels slashed during 2009. EU27 and US imports both halved, with South Korean imports down 29%. China was the world's biggest steel importer in 2009 with imports 43% higher than in 2008. Exports to Vietnam, Iran and India increased, while those to the UAE fell 57%. 2010 saw the EU27, South Korea and USA all substanitally increase imports while China reduced imports significantly.
If you want to know more about steel exports or imports please either contact
or use our NEW on-line Trade Enquiry System.
Global Trade in Steelmaking Raw Materials
Global Trade in Iron Ore
Iron ore exports are dominated by Australia and Brazil, with demand dominated by Chinese imports. Global BOS production fell just 4% in 2009 with growth of 13% in China countering a 23% fall across the rest of the world. Moreover 2009 saw Chinese imports of iron ore increase 41% on 2008 to 628 million tonnes, as the contribution from domestic mines fell. Despite the other major iron ore importers recording reduced imports this surge in Chinese import demand was sufficient to see 2009 total export levels reach record levels, up 9% on 2008.
2010 saw iron ore exports reach new heights with combined shipments by the top 15 exporting nations exceeding 280 million tonnes in Quarter 4 alone and with annual shipments exceeding 1 billion tonnes for the first time. The 2010 total represents a 12% increase on 2009 levels and was reached despite a 1% fall in China's imports.
If you want to know more about iron ore exports or imports please either contact or use our NEW on-line Trade Enquiry System.
Global Trade in Scrap
For 2010 we estimate total global trade in scrap to have increased by just 1% overall on the 2009 level. This is in part because some of the major scrap exporting nations, such as the USA and Japan, reduced exports in 2010 as domestic demand for scrap recovered. The major reason for the very modest rise in total trade levels was, however, that China's imports of scrap fell by nearly 60% in 2010. Total scrap import activity with China excluded rose 16% in 2010.
If you want to know more about scrap exports or imports please either contact or use our NEW on-line Trade Enquiry System.
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