Preliminary figures released by the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) show that the world-wide stainless steel crude steel production has increased after the first nine months of 2010 by 29% compared to the same period of 2009. Total production for the first nine months of 2010 was 23 million metric tons (mmt). All major regions showed significantly higher production volumes in the reported period.

In Asia with China excluded, stainless steel production increased by 28% to 6.4 million tons. The growth rates of the individual producing countries in Asia were between 7 and roughly 40%. Mainland China alone increased the stainless steel production in the first nine months of 2010 by 26.5% to 8.3 mmt, counting for about 36% of the world's stainless steel production now. After the same period in 2009 China's market share was at about 37%.

Western Europe/Africa is ranking number three under the world stainless producing areas. After nine months of 2010 this area achieved a 29.6% increase in stainless steel production. Total production was 6 mmt in this period.

In The Americas region, stainless crude steel production grew by 38.2% to 2 million tons in the first three quarters of the year. Production in the Eastern Europe region showed an increase of 44.2%, with just 0.25 mmt on an almost negligible low volume level.

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