Week in Review: Global steel production rises; record April for auto sales; China aluminum imports remain elevated

Before we head into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the week that was and the metals storylines here on MetalMiner, including rising global crude steel production, automotive sector developments and much more:
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Week of April 26-30 (global steel production, oil prices and more)

• Global copper mine production rose by 4% in January, the International Copper Study Group reported.
• Meanwhile, global crude steel production jumped in March, the World Steel Association reported.
• MetalMiner’s Stuart Burns took a look at the oil price outlook amid rising COVID-19 cases in India and Japan.
• On Thursday, the MetalMiner team hosted a 30-minute webinar on the stainless steel market. (For a schedule of upcoming webinar topics, visit the MetalMiner events page.)
• US steel capacity utilization reached 78.4% last week, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported.
• Could supply chain challenges in the automotive sector actually end up being a boon for other sectors? Burns delved into the subject earlier this week.
• China’s aluminum imports continued to surge in March, MetalMiner contributor Sohrab Darabshaw outlined this week.
• Ford Motor Co. announced its new global battery center dubbed Ford Ion Park.
• Sticking with the automotive sector, J.D. Power and LMC Automotive forecast US new-vehicle sales would have a record April.
• US steel imports picked up from February to March, the Census Bureau reported.
• General Motors’ Ultium Charge 360 initiative aims to make the charging experience easier for GM electric vehicle owners.
• Burns covered the EU’s carbon border tax proposal.
• US real GDP grew at an annual rate of 6.4% in the first quarter. In addition, the rise marked the third consecutive month of GDP gains after the record 33% drop in Q2 2020.

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