Imports by the world’s steelmaking countries grew by 12% in 2004 to reach 650 million tonnes compared to 2003’s 580 million tonnes. The largest importing countries were China (208 million tonnes), the EU15 (145 million tonnes) and Japan (135 million tonnes). The major exporters in 2004 were Brazil (237 million tonnes) and Australia (210 million tonnes).

Imports of iron ore by China in 2005 shot up to 275 million tonnes, an increase of one-third on the 208mt imported in 2004. Imports from India, at 68.5 million tonnes, were up by 18mt on 2004 which means that imports from India have increased tenfold since 1998.

Imports into China from Australia in 2005 were 112mt - an increase of 34mt on 2004 while imports from Brazil, at 55mt, were up by 8mt. The current split of Chinese imports by country of origin shows that Australia supplied 41%, India 25% and Brazil 20%, with other countries such as South Africa accounting for the remaining 14%.

Australia’s total exports of iron ore in the first 10 months 2005 were 195 million tonnes. Brazil shipped 224 million tonnes in 2005.

From ISSB World Steel Statistics Monthly - February 2006
The IISI estimates crude steel production for its 61 monthly countries to be 1107.1 million tonnes in 2005, 5.8% up on the year 2004 total of 1046.3 million tonnes. However, China accounted for almost 32% of this total, and the total excluding China fell by 1% compared to 2004. The December crude steel production for the 61 countries rose by 3.8% to 96 million tonnes.

Global Steel Trade
A new record high was set for world trade in steel which grew 8% in 2004 to 262 million tonnes (excluding internal trade within the European Union).

The largest steel exporting countries in 2004 were Japan (34.8 million tonnes), the EU15 (31.8), Russia (30.4), Ukraine (28.2) and, entering the top 5 for the first time, China (20.0).

Conversely, the largest steel importing countries in 2004 were China (33.2 million tonnes), USA (32.8), the EU15 (30.4) and South Korea (17.7)