Jun 22 2009
World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 95.6 million metric tons (mmt) in May. This is 21% lower than in May 2008.
China's crude steel production for May 2009 was 46.5 mmt, 0.6% higher than May 2008. Japan produced 6.5 mmt of crude steel in May 2009, down by -38.5% compared to the same month last year. South Korea showed a decrease of -11.8% from May 2008, producing 4.2 mmt of crude steel in May 2009.
In the EU, Germany's crude steel was 2.2 mmt in May 2009, a decrease of -47.8% from May 2008. Italy produced 1.7 mmt in May 2009, down by -41.6% from 2008. Spain produced 1.2 mmt of crude steel in May 2009, - 41.3% less than the same month last year. France showed a decrease of -41.3% from May 2008, producing 1.0 mmt in May 2009.
The US produced 4.3 mmt of crude steel in May 2009, a decrease of -50.6% compared to the same month last year. Brazil produced 1.9 mmt of crude steel in May 2009, -36.3% lower than May 2008.
Russia's crude steel production for May 2009 was 4.7 mmt, a decrease of -31.2 from May 2008. Ukraine produced 2.4 mmt of crude steel in May 2009, -40% lower than May 2008.
Turkey produced 2.1 mmt of crude steel in May 2009, -16.1% down from May 2008.
Iran produced 0.9 mmt crude steel in May 2009, 11.6% more than in May 2008.
World crude steel production for the first five months of 2009 was 449 mmt, a -22.4% decrease over the same period of 2008. Asia produced 294 mmt of crude steel, a decline of -8.8% over the first five months of 2008. The EU produced 50.7 mmt of steel from January to May 2009, down by -44.4% compared to the same months of 2008. North America showed a -49.3% decline, producing 29 mmt during the first five months of 2009.
China produced 217.2 mmt of crude steel for the first five months of 2009, a slight increase of 0.4 % and Iran showed an increase of 12.6%, producing 4.7 mmt of crude steel for the first five months of 2009. All the other major steel producing countries showed a decrease for the first five months of 2009.