According to the statistics of the world iron and Steel Association, the output of blast furnace pig iron in 38 countries and regions in the first quarter of 2022 was 310 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 8.8%. In 2021, the output of blast furnace pig iron in these 38 countries and regions accounted for 99% of the global output.
The output of blast furnace pig iron in Asia decreased by 9.3% year-on-year to 253 million tons. Among them, China’s output decreased by 11.0% year-on-year to 201 million tons, India increased by 2.5% year-on-year to 20.313 million tons, Japan decreased by 4.8% year-on-year to 16.748 million tons, and South Korea decreased by 5.3% year-on-year to 11.193 million tons.
EU 27 domestic production decreased by 3.9% year-on-year to 18.926 million tons. Among them, the output of Germany decreased by 5.1% year-on-year to 6.147 million tons, that of France decreased by 2.7% year-on-year to 2.295 million tons, and that of Italy decreased by 13.0% year-on-year to 875000 tons. The output of other European countries decreased by 12.2% year-on-year to 3.996 million tons.
The output of CIS countries was 17.377 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 10.2%. Among them, the output of Russia increased slightly by 0.2% year-on-year to 13.26 million tons, that of Ukraine decreased by 37.3% year-on-year to 3.332 million tons, and that of Kazakhstan decreased by 2.4% year-on-year to 785000 tons.
North American production is estimated to have decreased by 1.8% year-on-year to 7.417 million tons. South America fell 5.4% year-on-year to 7.22 million tons. South Africa’s output increased slightly by 0.4% year-on-year to 638000 tons. Iran’s production in the Middle East decreased by 9.2% year-on-year to 640000 tons. Oceania’s output increased by 0.9% year-on-year to 1097000 tons.
For direct reduction iron, the output of 13 countries counted by the world iron and Steel Association was 25.948 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 1.8%. The production of direct reduced iron in these 13 countries accounts for about 90% of the total global production. India’s direct reduced iron production remained the first in the world, but decreased slightly by 0.1% to 9.841 million tons. Iran’s output fell sharply by 11.6% year-on-year to 7.12 million tons. Russian production decreased by 0.3% year-on-year to 2.056 million tons. Egypt’s output increased by 22.4% year-on-year to 1.56 million tons, and Mexico’s output was 1.48 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%. Saudi Arabia’s output increased by 19.7% year-on-year to 1.8 million tons. The output of UAE decreased by 37.1% year-on-year to 616000 tons. Libyan production fell 6.8% year-on-year.