Projected global crude steel production 2020-2022

Global crude steel production is expected to reach almost 2 billion metric tons by 2022. Apart from being produced by raw materials, steel may be recycled and many countries import scraps in order to do so. Over 60 percent of the worlds scrap steel becomes recycled.

Stagnation in the steel market

The economic slowdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to impact the market in unprecedented ways in 2020 due in part to a sharp reduction in capital investments. Estimates of global steel production indicate a contraction for the first time in five years, and demand will also likely slump by close to five percent that same year. 2021 and 2022 projections showcase a quick steel market recovery dependent on the outcomes of the 2020 health crisis. Steel is one of the most commonly used metals across the globe. This is due to its key role in civil engineering construction and major appliances fabrication, which utilize the alloy’s strength and durability. Steel also plays an important role in discrete manufacturing - from surgical instruments to wristwatches.

China leads the global steel market

Worldwide production has increased incredibly over the last decade, and this has a lot to do with China’s immense productivity. This country produces roughly half of the world’s crude steel and is a net exporter of crude steel. Capacity additions may lead to increased production of steel; however, global steel demand is expected to dip by 2.4 percent in 2020 and increase by 4.1 percent the following year. China will remain the leading market for finished steel products.

China is projected to be a stagnant market

Production and consumption in China is expected to stagnate in 2020. Concurrently, steel manufacturers in the United States have been picking up serious pace. Following the 25 percent tariffs on steel imported from certain countries, the cost of steel in the United States had immediately risen, and domestic production became more profitable. The largest steel producer in the United States, Nucor, saw its sales decrease from 25.1 billion U.S. dollars to nearly 22.6 billion between 2018 and 2019.