METAL MARKETS Canadian firms Stelco, Dofasco place in top 30

World crude steel production in 1986 totalled 714 million tonnes, down from 720 million tonnes in 1985, the International Iron and Steel Institute reports. Crude steel production of the western world alone totalled 432 million tonnes in 1986, down from 450 million tonnes the year before.

The world’s largest steel- producing company in 1986 was Nippon Steel, whose crude steel output was 26.3 million tonnes. The second largest last year was finsider with an output of 13.1 million tonnes, and third was British Steel with 11.4 million tonnes.

Among Canadian firms, Stelco placed 22nd last year in terms of output, Dofasco was 30th and Algoma Steel was 47th.

The U.S.S.R. was the top steel- producing country in 1986 with 160.5 million tonnes, followed by Japan with 98.3 million tonnes and the United States with 73.8 million tonnes. Canada placed 14th with 14.1 million tonnes.

Industrialized countries consumed approximately 44% of the world’s steel output last year, compared with 50% six years earlier.