Global direct reduced iron production reached 136.5 million tons in 2023

According to the "World Steel Statistics 2024" released by the World Steel Association on June 6, global direct reduced iron production reached 136.5 million tons in 2023, an increase of 8.16% year-on-year; global scrap steel imports reached 97 million tons, the same as the previous year; global scrap steel exports reached 99.1 million tons, an increase of 0.2% year-on-year.

"World Steel Statistics 2024" shows that in 2023, Asia's direct reduced iron production was the highest, reaching 50.3 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 16.7%; the Middle East's production reached 49 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 2.29%; Africa's production reached 13.4 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 16.5%; North America's production reached 14.1 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 0.71%; the EU (27 countries) and South America's production remained the same year-on-year, at 300,000 tons and 1.7 million tons, respectively.

In 2023, Asia's scrap steel import trade was active, and Europe's import and export trade indexes were both high. Asia had the highest scrap steel import volume, reaching 33.3 million tons, up 7.07% year-on-year; exports were 11.3 million tons, up 15.31% year-on-year. The EU (27 countries) exported 30 million tons of scrap steel, down 5.66% year-on-year; imports were 44.7 million tons, up 2.75% year-on-year. Other European countries imported 20.1 million tons of scrap steel, down 9.87% year-on-year; exports were 9.4 million tons, down 7.84% year-on-year. North America imported 8.7 million tons of scrap steel and exported 23 million tons.

From the perspective of major steel production companies, 6 Chinese companies are among the top 10 in the world in crude steel production. Other steel companies in the top 10 in the world in crude steel production include ArcelorMittal (ranked second, with a crude steel production of 68.52 million tons), Nippon Steel Corporation (ranked fourth, with a crude steel production of 43.66 million tons), Posco Holdings (ranked seventh, with a crude steel production of 38.44 million tons), and Tata Steel Group (ranked tenth, with a crude steel production of 29.5 million tons).

From the perspective of major steel producing countries (regions), in 2023, China will continue to occupy the world's first position with a production of 1.019 billion tons; India ranks second with a production of 140.8 million tons, the largest year-on-year increase, a year-on-year increase of 12.28%; Japan ranks third with a production of 87 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 2.47%;