World steel production in November fell 19% vs. 2007

World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 89 million metric tons (mmt) in November. This is 19 percent lower than the same month in 2007.

Total world crude steel production was 1,224.6 mmt in the first 11 months of 2008, a 0.9 percent increase over the same period in 2007.

China’s crude steel production for November 2008 was 35.2 mmt, a decrease of 12.4 percent on November 2007. In the first 11 months of 2008, China produced 463 mmt of crude steel, an increase of 2.6 percent compared to the same period in 2007.

Overall, Asia produced 54.1 mmt of crude steel in November 2008 compared to 61 mmt in November 2007, a 11.4 percent decrease in crude steel production. Japanese production was 8.8 mmt, down by 12.9 percent compared to the same month last year. South Korea showed a decrease of 9 percent in November 2008, producing 3.9 mmt of crude steel.

In the European Union, Germany produced 3.3 mmt of crude steel in November 2008, a decrease of 18.5 percent from November 2007. Italy’s crude steel production was 2.3 mmt, down by 16.5 percent compared to the same month last year. France showed a decrease of 29.1 percent from November 2007, producing 1.0 mmt in November 2008.

In the CIS, 5.8 mmt of crude steel was produced, a decrease of 43.1 percent compared to the same month last year. Russia produced 3.7 mmt, 36.5 percent less than in November 2007 and Ukraine produced 1.6 mmt, a decrease of 54.9 percent.

South America crude steel production in November was 3.4 mmt, a 17.8 percent decrease compared to November 2007.