World-wide production of raw steel totalled 136.5 million tonnes in January, a 7.0% increase on the January 2016 total.
The World Steel Association (WSA), which tracks monthly raw-steel output and capacity utilisation rates for 67 countries, said that China produced 67.2 million tonnes, which represents an increase of 2.7% on its January 2016 total.
However, a spokesman said: “The Chinese situation is critical, as industrial demand has remained mainly flat, export opportunities have been reduced, and the nation’s central planners continue to implement an aggressive programme of capacity reduction and forced consolidation of producers’ holdings.”
The total raw-steel output of the 28 European Union nations in January was 13.8 million tonnes, a 2.43% increase on the January 2016 total. Germany produced 3.65 million tonnes, 1.24% more than in January 2016.