Brussels, 6 July 2007 – Global stainless crude steel production was 7.6 million metric tons (mmt) in the first quarter of 2007 according to the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF). This is an increase of 0.7% compared to the final quarter of 2006.
Major increases in production were seen in the Eastern Europe and Americas regions. The Asia and Western Europe/Africa regions showed almost no change in production volume.
Table 1: Stainless and heat-resisting crude steel production (in ‘000 metric tons)
|
Region |
Quarter |
+/- %
Q-o-Q |
Quarter 1 |
+/- %
Y-o-Y |
|
4/2006 |
1/2007 |
2006 |
2007 |
|
Western Europe/Africa |
2,548 |
2,539 |
-0.3 |
2,427 |
2,539 |
4.6 |
|
Central and Eastern Europe |
85 |
99 |
15.9 |
83 |
99 |
18.4 |
|
The Americas |
693 |
749 |
8.1 |
722 |
749 |
3.8 |
|
Asia |
4,196 |
4,191 |
-0.1 |
3,348 |
4,191 |
25.2 |
|
World total |
7,522 |
7,577 |
0.7 |
6,581 |
7,577 |
15.1 |
Source: International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF)
Compared to the very weak first quarter of 2006, the global production increase was 15% in the first quarter of 2007. Asia, driven by China, is taking the lead with a production increase of 25.2%. The Central and Eastern Europe region also shows a strong increase in this comparison. The Americas and Western Europe/Africa regions performed according to their long-term averages.
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