The United States made about 6.9 million tons of steel in January, a 6.5 percent increase year-over-year, according to the World Steel Association.

Internationally, steel mills produced 136.5 million tons in January, up 7 percent from January 2016, according to the Belgium-based trade association. China made nearly half that amount, cranking out 67.2 million tons in January, or 7.4 percent more than in January 2016.

Capacity utilization in 67 countries around the globe was 68.5 percent last month, up by 3.4 percent as compared to the same time last year.

In January, steel output also rose in Japan, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Brazil, which had the most dramatic year-over-year gain of 14.4 percent. Production dipped by 4.2 percent in Spain.

The American Iron and Steel Institute estimates that production is up 4.8 percent in the United States so far this year, through the end of last week.

 

Source:nwitimes.com

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