Brussels March 18th, 2014 – The International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) has released preliminary figures for 2013 showing that stainless steel melt shop production increased by 7.8% to 38.1 million metric tons (mmt). With the exception of Western Europe and Africa, all regions achieved positive growth.Asia excluding China recorded a production of 8.8 mmt during 2013 corresponding to a y–o–y increase of 0.8%. But growth throughout the region ranged from +5.4% (India) to -3.7% (Taiwan, China). Production levels in Japan and South Korea remained unchanged.
China continues to expand its production share which is now approaching 50%. Stainless steel production in China increased by +18% to 19 mmt in comparison to 2012.
In Western Europe and Africa, production decreased by -4.3% year–on–year to 7.5 mmt. The range varies from +5.1% and +4.6% in France and Belgium to double digit negative values in the UK and Germany.
The Americas and Central and Eastern Europe achieved positive growth. Stainless steel production increased by 3.6% to 2.5 mmt in the Americas and by 13.6% to 0.4 mmt in Central and Eastern Europe year–on–year.
Table 1: Stainless and heat-resisting melt shop steel production [000 metric tons]
| Region |
Full Year |
||||
|
2011 |
2012 |
+/- % y-o-y |
2013p |
+/- % y-o-y |
|
| Western Europe/Africa |
7,883 |
7,829 |
-0.7 |
7,496 |
-4.3 |
| Central/Eastern Europe |
391 |
359 |
-8.2 |
408 |
13.6 |
| The Americas |
2,486 |
2,368 |
-4.7 |
2,454 |
3.6 |
| Asia (w/o China) |
8,770 |
8,720 |
-0.6 |
8,788 |
0.8 |
| China |
14,091 |
16,087 |
14.2 |
18,984 |
18.0 |
| World total |
33,621 |
35,363 |
5.2 |
38,130 |
7.8 |
p = preliminary
Source: International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF)
The comparison of the individual quarters of 2013 versus 2012 shows positive year‑on‑year growth especially during Q3 and Q4 of 2013.
Table 2: Stainless and heat-resisting melt shop steel production [000 metric tons]
p = preliminary, r = revised
Source: International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF)
The figures below are based on data supplied by ISSF member companies. In comparison to 2012 there are only minor changes in production by grade.
Table 3: Market share of stainless steel grade categories (estimated and preliminary)
| Grade category |
2013 Q1 |
2013 Q2 |
2013 Q3 |
2013 Q4 |
2013 |
2012 |
| CrMn (200 series) |
21.0% |
20.7% |
21.2% |
21.2% |
21.0% |
21.1% |
| CrNi (300 series) |
53.2% |
53.4% |
52.8% |
55.6% |
53.7% |
54.1% |
| Cr (400 series) |
25.8% |
25.8% |
26.0% |
23.3% |
25.3% |
24.8% |
Source: International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF)