Third-Quarter Stainless Steel Production at All-Time-High Jan 19, 2012

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Worldwide stainless steel crude steel production increased 3.6% in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the first nine of 2010 according to preliminary figures from the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) show.

Total production in the first three quarters of 2011 was 24.2 million metric tons (mmt). Third quarter production was 7.7 mmt, the most ever in a third quarter. ISSF notes there were big differences in individual regions' performance.

China: Stainless steel production was up 12.8% in the first three quarters of 2011 to 9.4 mmt. China now accounts for about 39% of global stainless steel production. During the same period of 2010 China’s market share was about 36%.

Asia, not including China: Stainless steel production decreased by 1.9% to 6.6 mmt for the first nine months of 2011. Growth rates ranged from +10% in India to a decrease of 33% in Taiwan.

Asia, including China: As of the end of the first nine months of 2011 Asia, including China, accounted for about two-thirds of global stainless steel production and is increasing.

Western Europe/Africa: Western Europe/Africa is the world's third largest stainless steel producing region; it saw stainless steel production drop 0.7% to 6 mmt in the first nine months of 2011.

The Americas: Production decreased 5.5% to 1.9 mmt in the first nine months of 2011.

Central and Eastern Europe: Production increased 20.4%, but total production for the year is only 0.3 mmt, an almost negligible volume.

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