ASEAN Steel Industry Amid the Global Economic Meltdown

2008 saw the steel industry in the ASEAN region going in dramatic upward and downward situation. The first half was a significant growth and the 2nd half a massive downturn. Overall for the year however, it still posted an increase, thanks mainly to the high performance in the first half of the year.

According to the SEAISI Newsletter, January 2009 edition (South East Asia Iron and Steel Institute, or SEASI), apparent steel consumption in the first half of 2008 was estimated to reach 25.2 million tonnes, an increase of 10.2% from the 2007 record. The steel output on the other hand was estimated to reach 15.2% or 13% increase year to year. Imports increased by 13% to 15.6 million tonnnes while export was up by 28% to 5.6 million tonnes.

The same article reported that of the 6 nations (ASEAN 6, namely, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines), Indonesia recorded the highest growth rate at 24% to 5.5 million tonnes. Other nations that posted an increase in consumption growth are Thailand (13.6% at 7.45M), Vietnam (10.5% year on year to 5.3M), and Malaysia (5-6% to 4M). On the other hand, Singapore and the Philippines experienced negative growth rates. Singapore's consumption decreases by 12% to 1.8 million tonnes while the Philippines registered a drop by 9.5% to 1.57 million tonnes. Philippine production though increased by 20% to 1 million tonnes but imports dropped by 34% to 0.66 million. When the negative impact of the global crisis started to sink in, i.e, steel prices sharply went down due to weak demand, many steel producers around the world including those in the ASEAN resorted to production cutbacks.

Their report concluded that despite the slowdown in the 2nd half of 2008, overall apparent steel consumption of the ASEAN 6 increased by 4-5% to 45-46 million tonnes, mainly due to the high consumption experienced in the ist half of the year.