France increased steel production by 13% y/y in March

In March 2024, French steelmakers increased steel production by 13% compared to the same month in 2023, to 901 thousand tons. The country was thus ranked 19th in the global ranking of steel-producing countries (71) by the WorldSteel Association.

French steelmakers’ steel production increased by 12.3% month-on-month.

In January-March 2024, steel production in France increased by 1% compared to the same period in 2023 to 2.54 million tons. The average monthly steel production for this period amounted to 846 thousand tons, compared to 838 thousand tons in January-March 2023.

Overall, steel production in the EU countries in January-March 2024 decreased by 1.4% compared to January-March 2023 – to 33 million tons. Global steel production for 3 months amounted to 469.1 million tons, up 0.5% y/y.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2023, France reduced steel production by 17.4% compared to 2022, to 10.01 million tons. The average monthly steel production for the year amounted to 840.7 thousand tons, while in 2022 the figure was 1.01 million tons (-16.76% y/y).

Steel production in the European Union amounted to 126.3 million tons in 2023, down 7.4% y/y.

There are 10 steel mills in France, including Saarstahl Ascoval Saint-Saulve (capacity of 730 ktpa), LME Trith-Saint-Léger (850 ktpa), ArcelorMittal Dunkerque (6.75 million tpa), Kehler Baden Steel Works (2.5 million tpa), Riva Sam Neuves-Maisons (850 ktpa), Riva Sam Neuves-Maisons (850 ktpa), Riva Iton Seine Bonnieres Sur Seine (550 ktpa), Riva Alpa Gargenville (700 ktpa), Riva Sam Montereau (720 ktpa), ArcelorMittal Méditerranée Fos sur Mer (4 million tons/y), Celsa France Boucau (1.2 million tons/y). The total capacity of the plants is 18.85 million tons per year. Thus, in 2023, capacity utilization was 53.1%.