Global stainless steel melt shop production reached 21.094 million mt in the first half of this year, down a marginal 0.7% from output of 21.253 million mt in the first half of 2014, according to figures released Tuesday by the International Stainless Steel Forum.
While half yearly production was lower, stainless steel melt shop output was up 6.4% quarter on quarter at 10.875 million mt in Q2 from a revised 10.219 million mt in Q1 2015.
Production in China stood at 10.759 million mt in H1, up 0.7% from 10.687 million mt in H1 last year.
Output in Asia outside of China in H1 was down 1.5% at 4.684 million mt from 4.757 million mt for the same period last year.
Production rose in the Americas, where output of 1.453 million mt increased 4.8% from 1.386 million mt in H1 2014.
In the Western Europe/Africa region, H1 production of 4.065 million mt was down 5% year on year from 4.280 million mt.
