The World Steel Association (worldsteel) reported that African crude steel production edged higher marginally during the month of June this year. The region saw its crude steel output rising marginally by 0.7% in June ’19.

According to monthly production statistics released by the steel trade body, the crude steel output by African countries totaled 1.234 million tonnes (Mt). This compares with the production of 1.225 Mt in June last year. The production jumps in Egypt and Libya were more or less offset by decline in South Africa.

The largest regional producer-Egypt reported nearly 13% surge in production over the previous year. The production by the country totaled 725,000 tonnes, as compared with 642,000 tonnes a year before. South Africa- the second largest producer of steel in the region, witnessed 17% decline in output year-on-year from 547,000 tonnes to 454,000 tonnes. Meantime, Libyan production skyrocketed by 51.5% to total 54,000 tonnes in June this year. The country’s output had totaled only 36,000 tonnes in the same month a year before.

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The half-yearly crude steel production by the region totaled 7.729 Mt, higher by 7.6% when compared with the production from January to June in 2018. The Egyptian steel production during the initial six-month period of the current year totaled 4.315 Mt, as compared with 3.799 Mt a year before. The other key producers along with their output are as follows: South Africa (3.133 Mt), Libya (280,000 tonnes).