Crude steel production in the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) surged 23.3% on-year in April to 169.46 million tonnes, although this came from a low base as Covid-19 hit output last year. It was down, nevertheless, 0.4% on March as most large steelmaking countries reduced somewhat monthly output.

Chinese production rose 13.4% on-year to 97.85mt and was up from 94mt in March. India’s output soared 152% to 8.3mt, but was down from 10.33mt in March as the second Covid-19 wave gripped the country. Japanese and South Korean output was up 19% and 15% on-year respectively to 7.82mt and 5.86mt, but each fell versus March. Vietnamese output is estimated to have surged 77% on-year to 1.88mt.

EU27 crude steel output rose 43% on-year in April to 12.92mt, but was down from 13.8mt in March. Germany and Italy saw output of 3.36mt and 2.06mt respectively, up considerably on-year but down on-month. Spain and France reported output of 1.29mt and 1.25mt respectively, up on-year but also more or less unchanged from March.

The UK saw output at an estimated 615,000t, down only slightly both on-year and on-month.

Turkish production meanwhile rose 47% on-year to 3.29mt, but was down from 3.4mt in March.