World crude steel production up by 27%

World crude steel production in the first six months of 2010 was 706mmt, 27.9% higher in comparison with the same period of 2009, according to World Steel Association (worldsteel). Although production in the first half of 2010 increased by 7.2% compared to the same period of 2007, just before the global economic crisis, most of the world has not recovered to pre-crisis levels. Only Asia and the Middle East showed increased crude steel production. China's crude steel production for June 2010 was 53.8mmt, an increase of 9% compared to June 2009. Japan produced 9.4mmt of crude steel in June 2010, up 35.9% compared to the same month last year. South Korea's crude steel production for June 2010 was 4.8mmt, 21.9% up compared to the same month last year. In the EU, Germany's crude steel production for June 2010 was 3.9mmt, an increase of 53.4% on June 2009. Italy produced 2.3mmt, 32.8% higher than the same month in 2009. France produced 1.5mmt of crude steel in June 2010, an increase of 31.4% compared to June 2009. Turkey produced 2.5mmt of crude steel in June 2010, 13.8% higher than June 2009. Russia produced 5.4mmt of crude steel in June 2010, a 6% increase over the same month in 2009 and Ukraine's crude steel production for June 2010 was 2.5mmt, up 7.2% compared to the same month last year. The U.S. produced 7.2mmt of crude steel in June 2010, an increase of 65% compared to June 2009. Brazilian crude steel production was 2.9mmt, 46.8% higher than June 2009. The wor ld crude s teel capaci t y utilisation ratio of the 66 countries in June 2010 declined again to 80.6% from 82% in May 2010. Compared to June 2009, the utilisation ratio in June 2010 increased by 8.3% points.(the end)News