Global steel output up 4.6% in H1 as strong margins tempt mills to ramp up

Global crude steel output, a gauge of economic health, rose 4.6 per cent in the first half (H1) of this year versus the same period last year, as strong margins prompted mills in major producing countries to ramp up, industry data showed on Thursday.

Crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 881.5 million tonnes (mt) in the first half. In June, it rose 5.8 per cent versus June last year to 151.4 mt, worldsteel said.

Production in China, which makes and consumes half the world’s steel, rose 6 per cent to 451.2 mt in