May 21 2009
World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 89 million metric tons (mmt) in April. This is 23.6% lower than in April 2008.
China's crude steel production for April 2009 was 43.4 mmt, -3.9% lower than April 2008. Japan produced 5.7 mmt of crude steel in April 2009, down by -43.6% compared to the same month last year. South Korea showed a decrease of -10.5% from April 2008, producing 4.1 mmt of crude steel in April 2009.
In the EU, Germany's crude steel was 1.9 mmt in April 2009, a decrease of -53.1% from April 2008. Spain produced 1.2 mmt of crude steel in April 2009, - 38.2% less than the same month last year. France showed a decrease of -50.5% from April 2008, producing 0.8 mmt in April 2009.
The US produced 3.9 mmt of crude steel in April 2009, a decrease of -53.4% compared to the same month last year. Brazil produced 1.7 mmt of crude steel in April 2009, -40.4% lower than in April 2008.
Turkey produced 2.0 mmt of crude steel in April 2009, -13.4% down from April 2008.
Iran produced 0.9 mmt crude steel in April 2009, 3.2% more than in April 2008.
World crude steel production for the first four months of 2009 was 354 mmt, a -22.7% decrease over the same period of 2008. Asia produced 231 mmt of crude steel, a decline of -9.5% over the first four months of 2008. The EU produced 40 mmt of steel from January to April 2009, down by -44.2% compared to the same months of 2008. North America showed a -48.5% decline, producing 23.5 mmt during the first four months of 2009.
China produced 171 mmt of crude steel for the first four months of 2009, a slight increase of 0.1% while all the other major steel producing countries showed a decrease for the first four months of 2009.