World cost curve - hot rolled coil - Q1 2010

A cost curve is shown of hot rolled steel coil ex-works production costs for all major world steelmakers with hot strip mill capacity of over 2 mt/year. Approx 100 steel plants from around the world are included in the analysis.

The world's lowest cost producer is assessed as the Mittal Steel Termitau Plant in Kazakhstan, with an ex-works hot rolled coil production cost of ~$300/tonne.
In second place is JSW Steel in India at $340/t, followed by Jinan Iron & Steel in China $345/t and then by AHMSA in Mexico.

At the other end of the scale lie Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Corporation's Steubenville facility [operating, but in Chapter 11; estimated HRC cost of $715/tonne]; followed by USS Serbia with an estimated cost of $690/tonne. The world's high cost producers of flat rolled steel are typically:

• scrap-based electric steelmakers at a time of high scrap prices (mainly US producers such as Nucor, Gallatin)
• integrated steelmakers with inland locations and purchased raw materials, where high transport costs add to the high purchase prices
• plants dependent on purchased coke at a time of high coke prices
• independent hot rolling mills purchasing slab at market prices, plus transport.

For further information, please contact Metals Consulting International Limited [MCI], email us at MCI@steelonthenet.com, or call us on +44 775 149 0885.

To download cost curve chart, click here.