Global crude steel output rose for a sixth consecutive month in July as gains across China and the U.S. offset a decline in the European Union – according to a recent World Steel Association (“WSA”) report. Healthy gains across the Middle East and Africa also supported the growth. However, the pace of growth slowed on a monthly basis in the reported month.
According to the international trade body for the iron and steel industry, crude steel production for 65 reporting nations nudged up 1.7% year over year in July to 137 million tons (Mt). This follows a 3.1% gain last month.
By regions, production data paints a generally positive picture with gains registered across all areas barring the European Union.
Growth was seen across major Asian producers except Japan – the second largest producer – which saw a flat production at 9.3 Mt. Higher sales tax is affecting steel demand in that country. Output from China – the world's biggest steel maker – went up 1.5% year over year to 68.3 Mt in July. Production in India, the fourth-largest producer, rose 1.7% to around 7 Mt. South Korea raked in a 6.2% gain to 5.9 Mt. Consolidated output were up 1.7% to 92.4 Mt in Asia.
In North America, crude steel production rose 2.3% to 7.6 Mt in the U.S. – the third-largest steelmaker. Output in Canada went up 5.7% to around 1.1 Mt. Overall production for the region was up 2% to roughly 10.4 Mt.
In the Europe Union, production from Germany – the biggest producer in the region – rose 1.5% to 3.4 Mt. Output fell 3.6% in Italy to 2 Mt while rising 1.6% to 1.4 Mt in France. Spain saw a 5.9% rise to 1 Mt. Production slipped 4.4% in the UK to around 1 Mt. Total output dipped 2% in the European Union to 13.3 Mt.
Output in the Middle East moved up 8.3% to 2.4 Mt with healthy gains witnessed across Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Africa logged a solid 21.2% gain to 1.5 Mt in the reported month.
Among other notable producers, production from Turkey was up 1% to 2.8 Mt. Russia saw a healthy 8.1% rise to 6.2 Mt while Ukraine – which have been battered by fierce conflict with Russia – recorded a 11.7% decline to 2.5 Mt. Output from Brazil, the largest producer in South America, inched up 0.5% to 2.9 Mt.
Crude steel capacity utilization ratio for the reporting countries was 75.4% in July 2014, down from 76.6% a year ago and 78.3% in the previous month.
Steelmakers globally remain hobbled by challenging market fundamentals and weak pricing. Overcapacity in the industry, a flood of cheap imports and weak demand in Europe hammered steel prices for the most part of 2013, hurting margins of major producers including ArcelorMittal (MT - Analyst Report), U.S. Steel (X - Analyst Report), Nucor (NUE - Analyst Report) and AK Steel (AKS - Analyst Report).
With the global economy gradually on the mend and activities picking up in the construction sector, 2014 promises to be a transition year for the steel industry. The WSA sees continued recovery in steel demand and expects global steel usage to increase 3.1% this year and further rise 3.3% in 2015. Improving demand is also expected to jack up steel prices.
However, the industry faces challenges in form of an expected deceleration in steel usage in China due to a slowdown in the country's housing market and weaker infrastructure investment growth.
Nevertheless, a gradually healing economy, strength in the automotive market and a rebound in non-residential construction and housing markets should provide a much-needed thrust to the U.S. steel industry this year. Moreover, an expected rise in steel usage in the Euro-zone on the back of a flourishing auto sector and a recovering construction market looks encouraging after a lumpy 2013.
Source:zacks.com
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