According to the preliminary data announced by the World Steel Association on world production (64 countries) during December 2022, crude steel production amounted to 140.7 million tonnes, a decrease of -10.8% compared to December 2021 production.
Africa produced 1.1 million tons in December 2022, down by -8.9% from December 2021. Asia and Oceania produced 104.9 million tons of crude steel in December 2022, down by -9.2% from December 2021.
The European Union (27) produced 9.2 million tonnes of crude steel in December 2022, a decrease of -16.7% compared to December 2021.
Independent countries including Russia and Ukraine produced 6.2 million tonnes of crude steel in December of 2022, a decrease of -28.4% from the same year in 2021. South America produced 3.3 million tonnes, a decrease of -3.8%.
As for 2022, world production reached 1831.5 million tonnes, with a decrease of -4.3%, or 82.3 million tonnes, compared to 2021, due to the decline in production in all regions of the world, except for the Middle East. The most declining region in production was the Independent countries region with a decline of -20.2% or 21.5 million tonnes, and the Asia region with a drop of -2.3% but with a volume of 31.8 million tonnes, followed by the European Union region with a decrease of -10.2% or 16 million tonnes.
Production in different regions of the world
Region | December 2022 (MT) | December change % 21/22 | Jan- Dec 2022 MT | % Change 21/22 |
Africa | 1.1 | -8.9 | 14.9 | -6.6 |
Asia Oceania | 104.9 | -9.2 | 1351.3 | -2.3 |
EU (27) | 9.2 | -16.7 | 136.7 | -10.5 |
Europe, Other | 3.4 | -19.2 | 44.7 | -12.2 |
Middle-East | 3.7 | 0.4 | 44.0 | 7.1 |
North America | 8.8 | -9.9 | 111.4 | -5.5 |
CIS | 6.2 | -28.4 | 85.2 | -20.2 |
South America | 3.3 | -3.8 | 43.3 | -5.0 |
Total | 140.7 | -10.8 | 1831.5 | -4.3 |
As for the Arab countries, Egypt topped the production of Arab countries in 2022, producing 9.8 million tonnes, a decline of -4.6%, followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, producing 9.1 million tonnes, an increase of 3.9%. Algeria came in third place, producing 3.5 million tonnes.
Arab countries production of Crude steel
Country | 2022 (MT) | 2021 (MT) | % Change 21/22 |
Egypt | 9.8 | 10.3 | -4.6 |
Saudi Arabia | 9.1 | 8.7 | 3.9 |
Algeria | 3.5 | 3.49 | 0.2 |
UAE | 2.99 | 3.2 | 7.1 |
Qatar | 1.0 | 1.08 | 8.0 |
Libya | 0.688 | 0.652 | 5.5 |