India's position in world's steel production remained unchanged at the fourth slot in 2013 with an output of 81.2 million tonnes.

This is despite India logging the second highest growth of 5.1 per cent among the top five producers.

There was no change in the order of top three steel producing nations with China, Japan and the US retaining their slots in the respective order in 2013, the World Steel Association (WSA) data revealed on Thursday.

India was the fourth largest steel maker in the previous three years as well with a total output of 77.3 MT 2012, 73.6 MT in 2011 and 69 MT in 2010. It had clinched the third spot in 2009.

"World crude steel production reached 1,607 MT for 2013, up by 3.5 per cent compared to 2012. The growth came mainly from Asia and the Middle East while crude steel production in all other regions decreased in 2013 compared to 2012," WSA said.

Recording a growth of six per cent, Asia produced 1,081 MT steel in 2013. The region's share of world steel production increased slightly from 65.7 per cent in 2012 to 67.3 per cent in 2013.

Country-wise, China produced 779 MT, an increase of 7.5 per cent over 2012. Its share in world crude steel production increased from 46.7 per cent in 2012 to 48.5 per cent in 2013. Japan produced 110.57 MT and South Korea 66 MT in 2013.

The Middle East produced 26.3 MT steel, up by 6.8 per cent, over 24.7 MT production a year ago.

"The EU recorded a decrease of 1.8 per cent compared to 2012, producing 165.6 MT of crude steel in 2013," WSA said, adding the production in North America was 119.3 MT, a dip of 1.9 per cent. The US produced 87 MT, down by two per cent over 2012.

CIS countries produced 109 MT steel during the year, down 1.8 per cent. Russian production was at 69.4 MT, a decrease of 1.5 per cent over 2012. South America's production was at 46 MT, down 0.8 per cent.