World crude steel production up 4.2% higher

World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 130 million metric tonnes (mmt) in May 2011. This is 4.2% higher than in May 2010.
China's crude steel production for May 2011 was 60.2mmt, up 7.8% compared to May 2010. Japan produced 9mmt of crude steel in May 2011, a decrease of -7% compared to the same month last year due to the production disruption caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami. South Korea produced 5.9mmt of crude steel in May 2011, 12.8% more than in May 2010.
In the EU, Germany's crude steel production for May 2011 was 4.1mmt, an increase of 1.1% compared to May 2010. Italy's crude steel production was 2.6mmt, up 6.9% compared to the same month last year. Spain produced 1.6mmt of crude steel in May 2011, down -5.5% over May 2010.
Brazil's crude steel production for May 2011 was 3.3mmt, an increase of 14.7% compared to May 2010.
The U.S. produced 7.3mmt of crude steel in May 2011, 0.1% higher than in May 2010. Iran crude steel production in May 2011 was 1.1mmt, an increase of 4.5% on May 2010.
In May 2011, the world crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 64 countries was 81.7%, 0.6 percentage points lower than in April 2011. Compared to May 2010, the utilisation ratio is 0.6 percentage points lower.mj.monde