47recyclinginternational.com | January/February | 2021
ferrous
2020 sNAPsHOT
Latest data from the World Steel
Association (worldsteel) shows global
crude steel production was 1 864.0
million tonnes in 2020, down 0.9%
compared to 2019.
Asia produced 1 374.9 million tonnes
of the overall total, an increase of
1.5%. The bulk was obviously from
China, whose total of 1 053.0 million
tonnes indicates a rise of 5.2%,
increasing its share of global produc-
tion from 53.3% in 2019 to 56.5% in
2020. On the other hand, India’s crude
steel production last year fell 10.6%.
Japan’s was down 16.2% and South
Korea’s fell 6.0%.
The EU total of 138.8 million tonnes
was down 11.8% on 2019 while North
America fell 15.5% with the United
States contributing 72.7 million
tonnes, down 17.2%.
Those reporting increased production
include Turkey (up 6% to 35.8 million
tonnes), the Middle East (up 2.5%
to 45.4 million tonnes), the CIS
(up 1.5% to 102.0 million tonnes)
and Iran (up 13.4% to 29.0 million
tonnes).
EAF vENTURE
Encouraging news for US traders
came with ArcelorMittal and Nippon
Steel signing a joint-venture agree-
ment for an electric-arc furnace at
their existing shared facility in Calvert,
Alabama. Arcelor Mittal puts the cost
of the project at US$ 775 million (EUR
630 million) and the plant is expected
to produce 1.5 million tonnes of steel
slabs. Construction will begin this year
and the company expects the EAF to
be operational by the first half of
2023.
Brad Davey, ceo of ArcelorMittal
North America, says the new facility
will provide flexibility to the plant’s
slab sourcing and increase its respon-
siveness to short lead time orders.
The plant, which the partners bought
in 2014, is currently capable of pro-
ducing 5.3 million tonnes of flat-rolled
carbon steel products annually. It
serves the automotive, construction,
pipe and tube, and other industries
and currently uses 31.5% recycled
steel scrap in its products.
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