Total world crude steel production was 696 mmt in the first half of 2008, a 5.7% 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% compared to the same period in 2007. In June 2008, China’s moving annual total (MAT) growth rate slowed further to 10.2%, compared to its MAT growth rate peak of 26.3% in January 2006. China’s crude steel production for June 2008 was 46.9 mmt, an increase of 10.2% 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% increase in crude steel production.
Total crude steel production in the EU was 18.1 mmt, 1.8% 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% 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% from June 2007. Turkey’s crude steel production was 2.5 mmt, which was 17.5% higher than the same month last year. Turkey produced 10.6% more crude steel in the first six months of 2008 than over the same period last year.
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