Brussels - World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 128 million metric tons (mmt) in June. This is 8% higher than June 2010.

World crude steel production in the first six months of 2011 was 757.8 mmt, 7.6% higher in comparison with the same period of 2010. All major steel-producing regions showed increased production.

China’s crude steel production for June 2011 was 59.9 mmt, an increase of 11.9% compared to June 2010.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 8.9 mmt of crude steel in June 2011, down -5% compared to the same month last year. India produced 6.0 mmt for June 2011, an increase of 7.3% over June 2010. South Korea’s crude steel production for June 2011 was 5.7mmt, 19% up compared to June 2010.

In the EU, Germany’s crude steel production for June 2011 was 3.9 mmt, an increase of 0.2% on June 2010. Italy produced 2.6 mmt, 15.2% higher than the same month in 2010. Spain’s crude steel production for June 2011 was 1.5 mmt, up 4.5% on June 2010. France produced 1.4 mmt of crude steel in June 2011, a decrease of -6.1% compared to June 2010.

Turkey produced 2.8 mmt of crude steel in June 2011, 12.3% higher than June 2010.

The US produced 7.2 mmt of crude steel in June 2011, an increase of 1.7% compared to June 2010.

Brazilian crude steel production was 3.0 mmt, 3.9% higher than June 2010.

The world crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 64 countries in June 2011 was 82.8%, 1.2 percentage points higher than in May 2011. Compared to June 2010, the utilisation ratio in June 2011 increased by 2.5 percentage points.