Global steel demand to contract by 2.3% in 2022: worldsteel

20 Oct 2022 Evaluate

The World Steel Association (worldsteel) in its latest update of its Short Range Outlook (SRO) for 2022 and 2023 has forecasted that global steel demand will contract by 2.3% in 2022 to reach 1,796.7 Mt after increasing by 2.8% in 2021. In 2023 steel demand will see a recovery of 1.0% to reach 1,814.7 Mt. the latest forecast shows a downward revision over the earlier forecast, reflecting the repercussion of persistently high inflation and rising interest rates globally. The 2022 demand may dampened with high inflation, monetary tightening, and China’s slowdown contributed, though infrastructure demand is likely to lift 2023 steel demand slightly.

As per the latest outlook, India’s steel demand will show high growth on the back of strong urban consumption and infrastructure spending, which will also drive demand for capital goods and automobiles among other things, despite global headwinds. In the ASEAN region, steel demand witness a slow start of recovery from the pandemic, with the recovery of construction lagging. However, in 2022, the region’s steel demand has been showing strong growth as governments are pushing for infrastructure projects. Particularly strong growth in steel demand is forecasted in Malaysia and The Philippines.

Worldsteel also said steel demand in China contracted by 6.6% in the first eight months of 2022. For the whole year, steel demand is likely to fall by 4.0% with the low base effect of the second half of 2022. In 2023, new infrastructure projects and a mild recovery in the real estate market could prevent further contraction of steel demand. Steel demand in 2023 is likely to remain flat under the assumption that small new stimulus measures are to be introduced and lockdown measures will be largely removed in the later part of 2022.

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