World crude steel production up 5.9 percent in June

World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) was 118.8 million metric tons (mmt) in June. This is 5.9 percent higher than the same month last year.

Total world crude steel production was 696 mmt in the first half of 2008, a 5.7 percent increase over the same period in 2007.

In the first six months of 2008, China produced 263.2 mmt of crude steel, an increase of 9.6 percent compared to the same period in 2007. In June 2008, China’s moving annual total (MAT) growth rate slowed further to 10.2 percent, compared to its MAT growth rate peak of 26.3 percent in January 2006. China’s crude steel production for June 2008 was 46.9 mmt, an increase of 10.2 percent on June 2007.

Overall, Asia produced 68.3 mmt of crude steel in June 2008 compared to 62.8 mmt in June 2007, an 8.7 percent increase in crude steel production.

Total crude steel production in the EU was 18.1 mmt, 1.8 percent higher than for June 2007. The largest producer in the EU is Germany, with 4.1 mmt of crude steel, an increase of 2.1 percent compared to the same month last year.

The ‘Other Europe’ region of seven countries outside the EU produced 2.9 mmt in June 2008, an increase of 15.5 percent from June 2007. Turkey’s crude steel production was 2.5 mmt, which was 17.5 percent higher than the same month last year. Turkey produced 10.6 percent more crude steel in the first six months of 2008 than over the same period last year.