Africa Crude Steel Output Contracted in October

The African crude steel production recorded notable decline during the month of October this year, mainly on account of production declines in major producing countries including Libya and South Africa. However, the largest producer, Egypt, recorded increased output over the previous year. The regional output during the initial ten months of the current year too remained lower.

The monthly crude steel production data published by the World Steel Association (worldsteel) indicates that African production totalled 1.100 million tonnes (Mt), down sharply by 5.6% from the prior year month. The region had reported a total production of 1.166 Mt in October last year.

Egypt continued to be the leading producer of steel in the region, with an estimated output of 670,000 tonnes of crude steel. The country accounted over 60% of the total regional production. The country’s monthly steel output jumped higher by 21%, upon comparison with the same month a year before. The second largest producer- South Africa reported 30.4% year-on-year decline from 546,000 tonnes to 380,000 tonnes. Meantime, the Libyan output posted nearly 27% year-on-year decline.

The cumulative steel production by the African countries during the initial ten-month period of 2020 totalled 10.173 Mt, down by approximately 15% upon comparison with the output of 11.980 Mt during Jan-Oct ‘19.