The recent production data released by the World Steel Association (wordsteel) suggests substantial decline in crude steel output by Asian countries during the month of April this year. China- the largest steel producing nation managed to increase its output marginally amidst global weakness in output on account of coronavirus pandemic.
The Asian region produced 104.483 million net tons (Mt) of crude steel in April 2020, down by 7.5% when compared with the production during the same month a year before. The regional output had totalled 113.007 Mt during April last year.
China accounted for more than 81% of the total regional output during the month. The Chinese output totalled 85.033 Mt. The second largest steel producer in the region was Japan, followed by South Korea. The Indian output slipped the most, falling by 65% from the previous year to 3.137 Mt, due to production cutbacks on account of extended nationwide lockdown.
The April 2020 crude steel output by other countries in the region was as follows: Japan (6.617 Mt), South Korea (5.500 Mt), Vietnam (1.946 Mt), Taiwan (1.650 Mt), Thailand (350,000 tonnes) and Pakistan (250,000 NT).
The combined output by the region during the first four months of the current year was down by 1.9% year-on-year to total 419.505 Mt.
