Global crude steel production fell 5.3% on-year in December to 135.7 million tonnes, Kallanish notes from worldsteel data. Despite increased EU and US production, plummeting China output dragged down the global figure.

Chinese crude steel output fell 15% in December to 67.4mt. However, Indian, Japanese and South Korean output rose 9.5%, 1.1% and 2.7% respectively to 12.1mt, 6.98mt and 5.4mt. Japanese output was slightly down versus November, however.

EU27 production grew 2.7% on-year in December to 9.08mt, despite a 2.3% drop in Germany to 2.63mt and 0.9% decline in France to 745,000t. Production in Italy and Spain jumped 6.6% and 7.3% respectively to 1.33mt and 712,000t. This came from a low base, as December 2022 saw widespread production cuts in Europe amid surging energy costs.

Compared to November, however, EU production was 1.2mt lower in December.

Turkish production surged 21% on-year in December to 3.22mt.

US production grew 7.6% to 6.81mt, while Brazilian output was up 0.9% to 2.52mt.

Russian volumes are estimated to have risen 4% on-year to 6mt.

Crude steel output in the 71 countries monitored by worldsteel thus ended 2023 down just 0.1% versus 2022 at 1.85 billion tonnes. Chinese output was completely equal on-year at 1.019 billion tonnes, according to statistics, while India’s rose 12% to 140.2mt. EU output fell 7% to 126.3mt and US production inched up 0.2% to 80.66mt.