From STEEL GRIPS online steel production Top steelmakers of 2009: Continual progression of China’s stronghold Mar 10, 2010 2009 was a year when world steel production showed massively divergent trends – strongly up in China and sharply down almost everywhere else. As a result, Chinese companies dominate the Top 20 steelmaking companies even more than they did last year. Top 10 largest steel producing companies (c)SBB The annual compilation of crude steel production figures shows nine Chinese steel companies were in the Top 20 in 2009 – up from seven in 2008 – and five of these are in the Top Ten. All but one of the Chinese companies moved up in the rankings, in some cases because of mergers and acquisitions. ArcelorMittal remained No 1 steelmaker, despite a fall of 29% in its production. Chinese mills Hebei and Baosteel occupy the Nos 2 and 3 positions. Japan’s Nippon Steel, which was second in 2008, fell to eighth position after a 31% drop in production. Posco, which is based in Korea moved up into fourth place. China’s Shougang and Valin, and India’s Sail are new entrants to the Top 20 this year. They replace Riva of Italy, Sumitomo Metal Industries of Japan and ThyssenKrupp of Germany. © Copyright 2007 by GRIPS media