BRUSSELS – World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) was 116.4 million metric tons (mmt) in April. This is 5.6% higher than the same month last year.

Total world crude steel production was 457.3 mmt in the first four months of 2008, a 5.7% increase over the same period in 2007.

In the first four months of 2008, China produced 169.8 mmt of crude steel, an increase of 9.1% compared to the same period in 2007. In April 2008, China’s moving annual total (MAT) growth rate slowed further to 11.0%, compared to its MAT growth rate of 20.6% in April 2007. China’s crude steel production for April 2008 was 44.7 mmt, an increase of 10.2% on April 2007.

Overall, Asia produced 65.7 mmt of crude steel in April 2008 compared to 60.5 mmt in April 2007, an 8.7% increase in crude steel production.

In North America, the MAT growth rate for April 2008 was 3.4%, continuing its upward trend. US production was an estimated 8.3 mmt (an increase of 1.1% from April 2007), Mexico 1.6 mmt (up 10.5% from April 2007) and Canada 1.4 mmt (up 3.7% from April 2007).

The ‘Other Europe’ region of seven countries outside the EU produced 2.7 mmt in April 2008, an increase of 3.1% from April 2007. Turkey’s crude steel production was 2.3 mmt, which was 2.7% higher than the same month last year. Turkey produced 8.2% more crude steel in the first four months of 2008 than over the same period last year.

Source: International Iron and Steel Institute, May 20, 2008