Metals Production Recovers

Abstract

Global production of key metals surged 14.3 percent in 2010 (the latest year with data) to a record 1.48 billion tons, in a robust recovery from the sharp decline spurred by the 2009 global recession.¹ (See Figure 1.) The increase marks a return to the steep rise in metals production of the past decade, driven in part by the rapid economic expansion of newly prosperous developing countries such as China, India, and Brazil.