Industrial Products

Abstract

The world’s yearly production worth over USD 80 trillion is unthinkable without sea transport and the mass supply of raw materials. Imported ores are smelted into steel, copper, zinc and aluminium, which are then refined into high-quality industrial products, a large proportion of which are in turn exported (Fig. 3.1). After an increase of 4.6%, the world crude steel production of 2018 was figured at 1808 million tonnes, that of finished steel products at 1712 million tonnes. In 2020, the crude steel production still reached 1.864 million tonnes, which yet meant a reduction of 0.9% compared to 2019. A major, and still growing proportion of 57% (equivalent to 1053 million tonnes) was in 2020 contributed to China, up from 51% and 53% in the years before, while India faced a downturn by 10.6% to 100 million tonnes, as well as Japan, where 16% less was produced (83 million tonnes and South Korea with a loss of 6%, equivalent to 67 million tonnes. The EU put out 139 million tonnes, meaning a decrease of 12%.