Arcelor tops list of world steelmakers

Archiv – Members of the Belgium-based International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) continued to dominate the Metal Bulletin list of leading steelmakers in 2003, with nine of the top 10 producers being part of IISI.Members of the Belgium-based International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) continued to dominate the Metal Bulletin list of leading steelmakers in 2003, with nine of the top 10 producers being part of IISI.
Luxembourg-based Arcelor stayed at the head the list by producing 42.8 million tonnes of steel last year. Formed two years ago by the merger of Arbed, Aceralia and Usinor, the company also occupied the top spot in 2002. Nippon Steel of Japan remains in second place after having made 31.8 million tonnes of steel in 2003 – an increase of 2.9% over the 2002 figure.
The LNM Group is continuing to make its way up the list, finishing 2003 in third position with a production total of 31.1 million tonnes (excluding Iscor, which is 49% owned by the LNM Group). LNM’s output is likely to increase further this year with the completion of its acquisitions in Poland.
Other IISI members in the top 10 include JFE Steel, POSCO, Corus Group, US Steel, ThyssenKrupp Steel, and the Riva Group. IISI members Nucor, Sumitomo Metal Industries, SAIL and the Gerdau Group occupy positions 11 to 14 on the list.
The Metal Bulletin list includes all steelmakers that produced more than 2 million tonnes last year – a total of 110 companies compared to 103 in the previous year.