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CONTENTS
Top steelmakers 2012
11
11
13
14
14
15
19
23
Country of origin/
Main domicile
2011
Output
2012
Output
Ranking Company
2012 2011*
Country of origin/
Main domicile
2011
Output
2012
Output
ArcelorMittal SA
91.891
88.231
34 35
China
9.904
10.127
Luxembourg
2 2
China
71.231
69.228
35 34
10.216
10.103
3 3
Japan
45.370
46.030
36 37
9.073
9.124
9.105
42.696
8.649
43.341
37 42
China
China
Korea (South)
37.325
37.986
38 38
9.038
9.103
37.685
36.424
39 39
ISDonbass Corp
Ukraine
8.924
8.885
40 36
Techint Group
Luxembourg
9.500
8.700
POSCO
6 5
7
China
JFE Steel
Japan
31.679
32.545
41 41
China
8.723
8.662
India
7.400
8.510
Taiwan
8.756
8.382
China
8.214
7.981
Shougang Group
31.923
32.309
China 30.042
31.418
42 48
10 10
30.200
43 40
11 11
24.030
12 12
24.023
23.006
44 43
USA
21.990
21.444
13 13
India 24.350
45 47
Erdemir
46 49
Salzgitter AG
Turkey
7.465
7.867
Germany
7.263
7.647
Spain
7.830
7.600
14 14
Gerdau SA
Brazil
19.623
18.920
47 44
Celsa Group
15 16
Nucor Corp
USA
17.745
18.021
48 51
China
7.012
7.565
voestalpine Group
Austria
7.720
7.485
16 18
17.013
17.339
49 45
17 15
19.194
17.317
50 57
China
5.830
7.210
51 46
China
7.645
7.176
Usiminas - Usinas
Brazil
Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA
6.699
7.158
18 17
Hyundai Steel Co
19 22
Riva Group
20 19
Evraz Holding
21 20
ThyssenKrupp AG
22 24
China
Korea (South)
17.134
17.054
Italy
16.079
16.000
Russia
16.773
15.945
52 54
Germany
16.700
15.300
53 50
Japan
7.160
7.010
Severstal
Russia
15.300
15.140
54 59
5.716
6.948
23 21
China 16.490
15.100
55 53
CITIC Pacific
China
6.733
6.622
24 30
Russia
11.968
14.923
56 55
Russia
6.118
6.532
4.874
5.659
Valin Group
China 15.890
14.113
CSN - Companhia
Siderurgica Nacional
Brazil
25 23
57 64
26 28
Jianlong Group
China
12.357
13.764
27 27
12.508
13.600
28 26
India
13.453
China
29 32
30 29
31 25
Metinvest International
59 63
Metalloinvest Holding Co
Saudi Iron Steel Co
(Hadeed)
Russia
5.821
5.619
Saudi Arabia
5.428
5.525
Sweden
5.671
5.253
60 61
13.400
61 56
China
6.006
5.223
11.368
13.223
5.532
5.201
12.195
13.037
China
Russia
62 62
USA
5.699
4.888
Ukraine
14.375
Egypt
4.600
4.793
10.221
32 33
China
33 31
China
58 58
11.773
63 60
AK Steel Corp
12.459
64 67
Ezz Steel Co
10.185
65 66
USA
4.717
4.743
66 52
Australia
6.785
4.742
67 75
3.757
4.361
68 68
4.350
4.200
10.164
India
Ranking Company
2012 2011*
Country of origin/
Main domicile
2011
Output
2012
Output
Ranking Company
2012 2011*
Country of origin/
Main domicile
2011
Output
2012
Output
China
2.210
2.714
Belarus
2.600
2.691
China
2.713
2.681
69 69
Turkey
4.223
4.083
97 116
70 74
Mexico
3.805
3.879
71 73
Commercial Metals Co
USA
3.806
3.816
Ukraine
3.812
3.785
99 98
India
2.390
2.680
3.755
101 112
Colakoglu Metalurji AS
Turkey
2.350
2.605
72 72
Zaporizhstal Integrated
Iron & Steel Works JSC
73 78
China
3.566
74 71
Japan
3.820
3.730
102 95
China
2.806
2.590
75 77
China
3.593
3.563
103 82
3.183
2.528
76 83
China
3.114
3.485
104 113
Australia
2.310
2.500
2.480
2.493
77 88
Emirates Steel
Industries PJSC
106 110
78 79
79 84
Diler Group
Turkey
2.374
2.456
Japan
1.395
2.438
Japan
2.734
2.410
Germany
2.362
2.315
China
1.369
2.313
China
2.120
2.310
United Arab
Emirates
3.000
3.480
China
3.537
3.431
108 97
Korea (South)
3.063
3.313
109 111
China
2.619
3.283
110 127
China
3.033
3.259
Rautaruukki Oyj
Finland
2.215
2.299
82 101
China
2.606
3.252
Germany
2.497
2.298
83 76
China
3.648
3.249
114 117
Minmetals Yingkou
Medium Plate Co Ltd
China
2.209
2.253
84 70
China
3.932
3.246
115 118
China
2.205
2.219
85 89
China
2.988
3.224
116 125
China
1.867
2.214
86 81
India
3.235
3.128
117 123
Acerinox SA
Spain
2.021
2.200
118 121
Feralpi Group
119 122
Qatar Steel
87 87
Italy
2.091
2.190
Qatar
2.038
2.175
China
2.426
2.124
France
2.251
2.092
China
3.011
3.061
88 86
China
3.019
3.030
89 93
Deacero SA de CV
Mexico
2.841
2.977
121 114
90 90
2.947
2.965
2.145
2.028
China
2.813
2.963
Badische Stahlwerke
GmbH
Germany
122 119
2.032
2.026
2.710
2.940
China
Italy
123 122
Switzerland
4.800
2.879
Korea (South)
1.990
1.960
Russia
2.848
2.846
2.458
1.720
China
2.525
2.812
96 96
China
2.755
2.745
91 94
92 99
93 65
Duferco SA
94 92
OAO TMK
124 124
125 107
Vallourec
www.mbdatabase.com
Up
Down
Unchanged.
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20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
800
*million tonnes
Top-ten steel-producing
countries 2012*
800
600
apparent consumption of
iron ore 2011*
EU27
CIS
Nafta
Central & S America
Africa
Middle East
Asia
World
*Million tonnes actual weight
400
145.2
135.4
69.4
83.1
8.7
38.2
1,388.4
1,913.0
46.8
2.5
5.8
26.5
1.8
2.6
1.2
11.7
101.7
Source: World Steel Association
200
*million tonnes
Br
a
Uk zil
ra
in
e
y
Tu
rk
ey
a
re
an
rm
Ko
Ge
ia
di
ss
ut
So
In
Ru
n
pa
St
Un
it
ed
Ja
at
a
in
Ch
es
EU27
Other Europe
CIS
Nafta
Central & S America
Africa
Middle East
Asia
World
*Million tonnes
31.4
23.3
1.8
7.0
0.5
2.5
0.2
37.6
104.5
Source: World Steel Association
reversed to 40:60.
June 2013 | Top steelmakers | 7
Trade trends
Flat products continue to dominate global
trade in steel mill products, given their
generally higher value per tonne and
consequential greater ability to justify freight
costs and travel further. At 140.7 million tonnes
(excluding EU internal trade), they accounted
for nearly half of the trade in 2012 a fall of
2.6% on the level in 2011, but only 1.5 million
tonnes less than the pre-crisis peak of 142.2
million tonnes.
Global semis trade actually increased by 2
million tonnes by comparision with 2011, but
long products saw an 11% jump to 67.6 million
tonnes. Long product mills with poor domestic
construction markets that booked export sales
instead accounted for much of this rise.
At 34.4 million tonnes, trade in tubes held up
well at a similar level to 2011 as global demand
for oil & gas production remained strong.
The long-term steady decline in the
percentage of finished and semi-finished
steel products exported globally continued
last year. Worldsteel data registered total
2006
58.9
60.1
134.8
30.0
2007
57.4
71.2
142.2
32.6
2008
57.0
69.1
136.4
35.5
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Total Exports
China
European Union (27)*
Japan
South Korea
Russia
Germany
Ukraine
Turkey
Italy
France
Mt
54.8
47.1
41.5
30.2
26.7
26.0
24.1
18.7
18.3
14.6
Long-term outlook
Given the relationship between population
growth and steel demand, trends in apparent
steel use per capita (kg finished steel products)
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
50
100
12
20
11
20
10
20
09
20
08
20
07
20
20
12
20
11
20
10
20
09
20
08
20
07
20
06
20
06
50
Africa
Asia
EU
NAFTA
Middle East
World
Other Europe
Central and
South America
2012
52.7
67.6
140.7
34.4
250
100
2011
50.7
60.8
144.4
34.6
Source: ISSB
150
2010
52.8
56.1
137.8
28.3
*Million tonnes
2009
48.8
51.4
110.7
24.2
CIS
*kg of finished steel products
Total Imports
United States
European Union (27)*
Germany
South Korea
Thailand
China
Italy
France
Indonesia
Turkey
Mt
31.5
29.5
22.9
20.4
15.2
14.2
13.9
13.2
12.2
11.5
Metal Bulletin sister title Steel Firsts global network of journalists analyse
what has been happening in their regions in 2012 and look at the drivers
for future developments and markets
Mixed fortunes in Asia
China
Of the 57 Chinese steelmakers on the list of the
worlds Top Steelmakers in 2012, more than
half posted lower production than in 2011.
This reflects at least two underlying trends:
first, the overall slowdown in Chinese steel
output during a challenging year for the
countrys industry. And secondly, the fact that
it was many of the biggest steelmakers that
were worst hit by the downturn. Hebei Steel,
Baosteel, Wuhan Steel, Shandong Steel and
Bohai Steel all in the global top 20 each
saw a fall in production.
There is no doubt that 2012 was one of the
most difficult years for Chinas steel industry in
decades. The economy slowed in response to a
continued credit squeeze by the Chinese
government that led to lower growth in key
steel-intensive sectors such as residential
construction and the auto industry.
In contrast to 2008, when the Chinese
government lavished cash on the economy to
sustain demand during the initial worst phase
of the world financial crisis, in 2012 Beijing was
in no mood for stimulus spending.
Japan
In one of the biggest moves in the industry last
year, Nippon Steel, already Japans biggest
steelmaker, and Sumitomo Metal Corp,
previously the third-biggest in the country,
completed their merger in 2012. The tie-up,
which had been mooted and discussed for
many years, is intended to help the companies
cope with the challenges facing Japanese
South Korea
SMS Siemag
South Korea has been expanding output and creating tougher competition in the region
India
Indias economic growth slowed to its lowest
Construction driven
Russian steel consumption is expected to rise
by an average of 3% annually in the next five
years, driven by the construction sector, the
countrys largest end user of steel, along with
the growing need for steel in the white goods
sector and among automobile manufacturers.
Some have argued, though, that the growth
SMS Siemag
Russia depends on exports to soak up production that greatly exceeds domestic demand
June 2013 | Top steelmakers | 13
Outlook deteriorates
The European steel industry has resigned itself
to reduced production in the long term. What
Europe has lost in the crisis cannot be
recovered, Erwin Bronk, a partner with global
Arvedi Steel
Advanced technology such as endless strip production at Arvedi Steel is helping to keep European
plants as competitive as possible in tough regional and international markets
14 | Top steelmakers | June 2013
Choppy recovery
This, according to Christopher Plummer,
managing director of Metal Strategies,
Pennsylvania, is in accordance with the slow,
choppy recovery of the US steel market ever
since it started to pick up in 2009. He notes
that US apparent steel consumption fell 6.4%
year-on-year during the first quarter on a 7.1%
decline of domestic crude steel output
compared with a 7.8% increase of apparent
steel consumption and a 2.7% increase of
crude steel output in the first quarter of last
year.
Nevertheless, James L. Wainscott, chairman,
president and ceo, AK Steel, Ohio says there are
a number of positive trends in the market
including continued recovery of both the
domestic and global economies, a continued
increase in domestic automotive production,
increases in housing starts and the realisation
of lower raw material costs due in part to the
implementation of vertical integration
ThyssenKrupp
strategies.
There is also potential for manufactured
goods to build momentum in 2013, says
Marlene Owen, director of investor relations
for Indiana-based Steel Dynamics, which rose
to the No. 65 Top Steel maker in 2012. Plummer
notes that non-residential construction,
which tends to lag housing by a year or two,
has begun to come off of its bottom, but at this
point is only up about 5% from an
exceptionally low base and is not expected to
see marked improvement until 2014 or 2015.
In an effort to reduce costs and become more
self-efficient in inputs, Wainscott says that in
addition to enjoying lower costs that are the
result of sluggish global economic conditions,
AK Steel has secured long-term agreements for
iron ore and metallurgical coal, and has
aquired interests in the raw materials as well.
Many other major US mills both integrated
and mini-mill also continue to make moves
to be more self-sufficient in raw materials. For
example, US Steel, which maintained the No.
13 position in 2012, recently became
self-sufficient in its coke requirements with
the start-up of its C coke battery in Clairton,
Pennsylvania, and one of the two Cokonyx
plants at Gary, Indiana, and is looking into the
possibility of producing low-silica direct
reduced iron (DRI) pellets from the iron ore
bodies at the steelmakers mines.
Steel Dynamics is now self-sufficient in
alternative iron units from production at both
its Mesabi Nugget and Iron Dynamics
operations, and Nucor has begun
Increasing output in
Latin America
Latin Americas largest steelmakers performed
better last year in comparison with 2011, at
least in terms of crude steel output. With the
exception of Brazil-based Gerdau, all the
other Latin American companies that make
this years ranking of Metal Bulletins Top
Steelmakers produced more steel in 2012, as
they fought to replace imports and raise their
market share within the region.
Brazils Usiminas is a clear example of such a
trend. With two integrated mills able to
produce a combined 9.5 million tpy of crude
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Challenging market
Not everything was good news in Latin
America, however. While it is true that most
of these companies managed to lift their
output, high production costs and low sales
prices amid tough competition from steel
imports continued to affect them financially.
Gerdau, the biggest steelmaker in Latin
America and number one in long steel in all
the Americas, saw its earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortisation (Ebitda) falling by 10% last year,
to 4.17 billion Reais ($1.93 billion), while its
net profit dropped by 29%. Its crude steel
output went down as well, to 18.92 million
tonnes from 19.62 million tonnes in 2011.
Usiminas was hit by a reduction in gross
profit and higher financial expenses,
reporting a 531 million Reais ($246 million)
net loss for 2012. This alone would be bad
news for the industry, but it was in fact even
worse as poor results were also reported by
Ternium and CSN. The first one suffered a
year-on-year decrease of $462.8 million in
its net profit, mainly due to a $363.9 million
loss related to its investment in Usiminas.
And CSN recorded a net loss of 481 million
Reais ($223 million), primarily as a
consequence of the depreciation of the
shares it owns in its rival 14.13% of common
shares and 20.69% of preferential shares.
SMS group
Regional reports
Latin America is expected to see rising steel demand, but it must battle against rising imports
Turkey
Turkey ranked the 8th biggest producer in
2012, with a total of 35.885 million tonnes of
crude steel output. But the countrys slab
production declined by 9% in the year
compared with 2011. The main reasons for
this decline include the shutdown of MMK
Metallurgys EAF, continuing imports, and
low demand from the countrys export
markets.
Turkeys billet production increased by
10.9% in 2012, thanks to strong demand from
export markets. For 2013, the country aims to
produce 36.5 million tonnes of crude steel,
according to the Turkish Steel Producers
Association (TCUD).
June 2013 | Top steelmakers | 19
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UAE
The UAE is becoming more self-sufficient in
steel, while the countrys producers are
increasing their production capacities and
range of products. Emirates Steel Industries
increased its crude steel output to 3.48 million
tonnes in 2012, from 2011s 3.0 million tonnes.
The second phase of expansion brought it up
to 3.5 million tpy production capacity, for
rebar and heavy sections, completed in 2012.
The phase-three project involves building a
1.7 million tpy meltshop and a 1.6 million tpy
hot strip mill, planned to be completed in 30
months time.
The UAE has 5% import duty on non-GCC
rebar, the most consumed steel product in the
country, although facilities with cutting and
bending equipment are exempt from the
duty. However, UAE customs have started to
implement stricter controls, and it is believed
that all imports are set to have a 5% duty
imposed. Such an implementation of import
duty will reduce imports from Turkey and
increase capacity utilisation of local mills,
market participants believe.
The UAE is no longer experiencing the sort of
construction boom that it had in 2004-2008.
However, there are several projects with
construction going on, and new ones are
expected to be announced by the end of 2013,
Dubai steel traders note. The worlds tallest
man-made structure, at 829.8 metres, Burj
Khalifa stands as a symbol of the earlier
construction boom in Dubai.
Qatar
Qatar Steel is also becoming a more important
player in Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC)
nations. The company has an annual
production capacity of 1,500,000 tpy of rebar
at Doha, Qatar, and 300,000 tpy of rebar at its
Dubai facility. The company also has 240,000
tpy wire rod production capacity at its Qatar
facility, and plans to increase it to 390,000 tpy
by 2014. As UAE may impose 5% duty on all
non-GCC rebar imports, the companys share
of the UAE market is getting bigger.
Qatar is also experiencing a construction
boom. The FIFA World Cup will be organised in
Qatar in 2020. Market analysts say this is
expected to increase steel consumption by
over 100% in the coming years.
Bahrain
Located in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Sulb is a
joint venture between Foulath (51%) and
Japans Yamato Kogyo (49%). The companys
Bahrain works has an annual medium and
heavy sections production capacity of 4.1
million tonnes and also produces 1.5 million
Iraq
Iraq is in the reconstruction phase after the
war, and it is one of the biggest steel
consuming markets in the Middle East. Hatch
Beddows forecast in 2012 that Iraq will have
the biggest growth in the Middle East & North
Africa region. The country has several steel
producers, and ongoing investments.
A Turkish market player noted that Turkish
exports to Iraq are expected to almost double
in 2013, as Turkey has several advantages such
as proximity, and cultural and traditional links
with the country.
Turkish investors have several projects in
Iraq as well. Turkey exported 106,058 tonnes
of rebar to Iraq in April 2013 according to the
Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). The export
tonnage in April 2012 was 93,840 tonnes, and
559,975 in the whole of 2010.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian steel production and demand
are strong thanks to government-funded
infrastructure projects, as well as private
sector construction investments. The country
invested $80 billion in 2009 in infrastructure
and public sector building, and plans to
spend $385 billion between 2011 and 2015,
according to Saudi media.
The countrys biggest steel producer is
Hadeed, the state-owned producer with an
annual production capacity of 6 million tpy.
The companys product portfolio includes
rebar, hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil,
hot-dipped galvanized coil and plate. It
mostly sells its long products in the local
market, while flat-rolled are exported as
well.
Saudi Arabian traders note that demand is
strong in the country, especially for rebar, and
it is not expected to decline for at least three
years. An executive of a Saudi Arabian tube
and pipe user informed Steel First that
declining prices do not affect demand much,
as projects continue. The Saudi government
increased budgets on infrastructure during
the Arab Spring in early 2011 in order to boost
the economy and avoid possible unrest. The
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Focused on quality
and reliability.
SMS SIEMAG AG
Eduard-Schloemann-Strasse 4
40237 Dsseldorf, Germany
E-mail: communications@sms-siemag.com
Internet: www.sms-siemag.com
Pre-1914
1918-1945
American boom
Steel was also becoming a booming business in
the USA in the 19th century. The Midwest became
the focus of steel and related heavy industries,
owing to the extensive iron ore deposits around
Lake Superior, the coal seams in Pennsylvania
and the access to cheap water transportation
around the Great Lakes. The end of the American
Civil War in 1865 started an industrial expansion
which quickly made the US economy the worlds
largest. Steel was at the heart of this expansion,
as it gradually replaced iron in construction and
shipbuilding. It was also vital for the railways that
The
Leading
Refractories Company
in Taiwan R.O.C.
1945-1970
Going electric
Around the turn of the 20th century, Paul Hroult
in France was developing the electric arc furnace
for making steel from scrap. This was
commercialised in the USA from 1906, but it
remained a very minor sector of the industry for
a long time. It received a boost from the Second
World War and its need for a rapid expansion
1970-1990
Voestalpine
Coil-Tainer Limited
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Postwar expansion
The Second World War not surprisingly boosted
steel output in major industrialised countries,
with global crude production peaking at nearly
160 million tonnes in 1943. Japans wartime
production peaked at 12 million tonnes, but its
industry also suffered considerable destruction.
US Steel recovered from the Depression, aided by
surging wartime demand followed by the
postwar boom: its revenues more than
quintupled from 1938 to exceed $3.5 billion in
1951.
The postwar world needed huge amounts of
steel for reconstruction. With the new alliances
formed, Japan Iron & Steel was now rebuilt from
scratch with the close cooperation and financial
support of the USA. The resulting plants were
larger, more integrated and the most advanced
in the world, producing quality steel at low
prices, aided by the low labour costs.
Japan Iron & Steel was broken up into four
private companies in 1950 in order to promote
competition, the largest being Yawata Steel. In
SMS GROUP/Baosteel
Chinas output has risen from over 100 million tpy in 1996 to about one half of the world total
June 2013 | Top steelmakers | 29
ARCELORMITTAL
Mini-mills diversify
Soaring productivity
Greater efficiency is shown not only by a better
use of raw materials and energy aided by leaps
forward in computer technology but also by the
manpower needed to produce a tonne of steel.
This is perhaps the starkest illustration of how the
steel industry has modernised. US steelmaking,
for example, saw labour productivity fall from 10.1
man-hours per finished ton in 1980 to an average
of 2 man-hours per ton in 2010 with many mills
achieving under one man-hour, according to the
American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
Germanys output of crude steel was 43.8
million tonnes in 1980 and almost the same in
2012 at 42.7 millions tonnes, but steel sector
employment fell from 288,000 in 1980 to 88,000
last year. This means that productivity rose by
218% from 152 tpy per employee to 484 tpy per
employee over this period.
In the period from 1974 to 1999, the worlds steel
industry reduced its total employment by over 1.5
million, while increasing total output and
building more mills. It is unlikely that the drive to
greater efficiency has concluded, and if past
experience is a guide, the current poor market
conditions in much of the world are likely to
increase the focus on innovation and effective
organisation.
Sources
Sources for this article include:
Individual steel companies
The White Book of Steel (World Steel Association,
2012)
Gales Directory of Company Histories
The Minimill Story (John Stubbles, AISTech 2006)
World Steel Association
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