Global stainless steel production in the first half of 2010 reached 15.648 million tons or 44.3% more than in the same period last year, according to International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF). The reasons for such rapid growth are called fast-than-expected global economic recovery, replenishment, combined with speculative orders, etc.

Geographically, there is widespread expansion of the production of stainless steel: in Western Europe and Africa, it rose by 49% to 4.304 million tonnes in Eastern Europe — by 62.9% to 163 thousand tons, in North and South America — by 67.9%. up to 1.399 million tons, Asia (except China) — by 45.8% to 4.313 million tons, China — 34.5% to 5.469 million tons.

In regard to the grocery recorded decline in the share of production of steel 200 series by 3.4% to 11.3% of the total output of stainless steel in the world, the 300th — by 3.8% to 58.3% and increase the share of 400th series by 9.7% to 30.5%.