Jul 20 2009
World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 99.8 million metric tons (mmt) in June. This is 16% lower than in June 2008.
China's crude steel production for June 2009 was 49.4 mmt, 6% higher than June 2008. Japan produced 6.9 mmt of crude steel in June 2009, down by -33.6% compared to the same month last year. South Korea recorded a decline of -14.4% from June 2008, producing 4.0 mmt of crude steel in June 2009.
In the EU, Germany's crude steel production was 2.5 mmt in June 2009, a decrease of -41.1% from June 2008. Italy produced 1.6 mmt in June 2009, down by -43.1% from 2008. Spain produced 1.2 mmt of crude steel in June 2009, - 31.4% less than the same month last year. France showed a decrease of -37.9% from June 2008, producing 1.1 mmt in June 2009.
The US produced 4.4 mmt of crude steel in June 2009, a decrease of -46.9% compared to the same month last year. Brazil produced 1.9 mmt of crude steel in June 2009, -33.9% lower than June 2008.
Russia's crude steel production for June 2009 was 4.9 mmt, a decrease of -22.1% from June 2008. Ukraine produced 2.3 mmt of crude steel in June 2009, -36.8% lower than June 2008.
Turkey produced 2.2 mmt of crude steel in June 2009, -12.7% down from June 2008. Iran produced 0.9 mmt of crude steel in June 2009, 9.4% more than in June 2008.
Total crude steel production in the 66 reporting countries for the first six months of 2009 was 549 mmt, a -21.3% decrease over the same period of 2008. Asia produced 360 mmt of crude steel, a decline of -7.8% over the first half of 2008. The EU produced 62.2 mmt of crude steel from January to June 2009, down by -43.2% compared to the same months of 2008. North America showed a -48.5% decline of its crude steel production, producing 35.8 mmt during the first six months of 2009.
China produced 266.6 mmt of crude steel for the first half of 2009, an increase of 1.2% and Iran showed an increase of 12.1%, producing 5.6 mmt of crude steel during the first six months of 2009. All the other major steel-producing countries showed a decrease in their crude steel production in the first half of 2009. However, for almost all the countries, the pace of contraction showed a slow down in June.