Fall in world steel output slows: study
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
PARIS, July 21 (AFP): The recent fall in world steel output slowed in June, when production fell 16 per cent from output in the same month last year to 99.8 million tonnes, with China showing a gain, the World Steel Association reported yesterday.
Production on a yearly basis had declined 21 per cent in May, 23.6 per cent in April and 23.5 per cent in March.
The association, which assesses data from 66 countries, said output in the first half of the year was down 21.3 per cent from the same period of 2008.
In Asia, Chinese steel production rose 6.0 per cent to 49.4 million tonnes from a year earlier while output fell 33.6 per cent in Japan to 6.9 million tonnes and 14.4 per cent to 4.0 million tonnes in South Korea.
The United States produced 4.4 million tonnes of steel in June 2009, down 46.9 per cent from June 2008, while in Brazil output fell 33.9 per cent to 1.9 million tonnes.
Among big producers in Europe, Germany turned out 2.5 million tonnes, a fall of 41.1 per cent.
In Russia steel production in June came to 4.9 million tonnes, down 22.1 per cent from a year earlier, according to the report.
Production on a yearly basis had declined 21 per cent in May, 23.6 per cent in April and 23.5 per cent in March.
The association, which assesses data from 66 countries, said output in the first half of the year was down 21.3 per cent from the same period of 2008.
In Asia, Chinese steel production rose 6.0 per cent to 49.4 million tonnes from a year earlier while output fell 33.6 per cent in Japan to 6.9 million tonnes and 14.4 per cent to 4.0 million tonnes in South Korea.
The United States produced 4.4 million tonnes of steel in June 2009, down 46.9 per cent from June 2008, while in Brazil output fell 33.9 per cent to 1.9 million tonnes.
Among big producers in Europe, Germany turned out 2.5 million tonnes, a fall of 41.1 per cent.
In Russia steel production in June came to 4.9 million tonnes, down 22.1 per cent from a year earlier, according to the report.