World Steel Association (WSA) Report Highlights
On November 22, the World Steel Association (WSA) released data showing that global crude steel production in October reached 152.1 million tonnes, a 1.0% increase year-on-year (YoY). However, cumulative production for the first 10 months of 2023 totaled 1.547 billion tonnes, marking a 1.6% decline YoY.

Regional Performance in October

• Africa: Produced 2 million tonnes, down 0.4% YoY.
• Asia & Oceania: Reached 110.3 million tonnes, up 0.9% YoY.
• European Union (27 countries): Output was 11.3 million tonnes, up 5.7% YoY.
• Other Europe: Produced 3.4 million tonnes, down 6.2% YoY.
• Middle East: Achieved 5 million tonnes, up 5.4% YoY.
• North America: Output was 8.8 million tonnes, down 3.6% YoY.
• Russia, CIS & Ukraine: Produced 6.7 million tonnes, down 12.2% YoY.
• South America: Recorded 3.8 million tonnes, up 7.2% YoY.

Top 10 Crude Steel Producers

1. China: 81.88 million tonnes, up 2.9% YoY.
2. India: 12.50 million tonnes, up 1.7% YoY.
3. Japan: 6.90 million tonnes, down 7.8% YoY.
4. USA: 6.60 million tonnes, down 2.0% YoY.
5. Russia (estimated): 5.60 million tonnes, down 15.2% YoY.
6. South Korea: 4.50 million tonnes, down 18.3% YoY.
7. Germany: 3.20 million tonnes, up 14.7% YoY.
8. Brazil: 3.10 million tonnes, up 16.2% YoY.
9. Turkey: 3.00 million tonnes, up 0.7% YoY.
10. Iran: 3.00 million tonnes, down 1.9% YoY.

Pig Iron and DRI Production

• Pig Iron:
  • Global production in October was 104.41 million tonnes, up 0.2% YoY.
  • Asian production totaled 87.45 million tonnes (70.26 million tonnes from China), up 1.4% YoY.
  • European Union produced 5.31 million tonnes, up 4.2% YoY.
  • Russia and CIS produced 5.04 million tonnes, down 7.7% YoY.
• Direct Reduced Iron (DRI):
  • October output from 13 countries reached 12.84 million tonnes, up 16.9% YoY.
  • India produced 4.85 million tonnes, up 11.3% YoY.
  • Iran produced 4.69 million tonnes, up 44.2% YoY.

Cumulative DRI production for 2023 (Jan-Oct) stands at 106 million tonnes, reflecting a 6.1% YoY increase.

This continued growth in key areas like DRI underscores the evolving dynamics of global steel production amid regional variations in crude steel and raw material outputs.