World stainless steel production reached 24.6 million metric tonnes (mmt) for the full year 2004, according to the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF). This is a rise of 7.5% compared to the full year 2003. Growth was driven by a particularly strong fourth quarter of 2004. Compared to the same period of 2003, world stainless steel production grew by 9.3% during the fourth quarter of 2004. Asia is the largest stainless steel producing area in the world. Total Asian production grew by almost 12% to 11.9 mmt. This was on top of an already high increase in production of 18% in 2003. Production in China grew by 33% compared to 2003. South Korea (~18%) and India (~11%) also showed strong increases in production. Western Europe/Africa is the second largest stainless steel producing area. Total output grew by 4.1% in 2004 bringing production in this area to 9.4 mmt. Production in the region was hit by strikes and bad weather conditions in the first quarter of 2004. Production in Central and Eastern Europe was 343,000 metric tonnes in 2004. The region has shown a strong increase in the consumption of stainless steel. Growth in the Americas was 3.5% in 2004, the same rate as in 2003.
