Brussels - World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 127 million metric tons (mmt) in April 2011. This is 5.0% higher than in April 2010.

China's crude steel production for April 2011 was 59.0 mmt, up 7.1% compared to April 2010. Japan produced 8.4 mmt of crude steel in April 2011, a decrease of -6.3% compared to the same month last year due to the production disruption caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami. South Korea produced 5.9 mmt of crude steel in April 2011, 15.9% more than in April 2010.

In the EU, Germany’s crude steel production for April 2011 was 3.8 mmt, a decrease of -1.7% compared to April 2010. Italy’s crude steel production was 2.5 mmt, up 9.8% compared to the same month last year. Spain produced 1.5 mmt of crude steel in April 2011, down -5.8% over April 2010.

Turkey’s crude steel production for April 2011 was 2.8 mmt, an increase of 14.3% compared to April 2010.

The US produced 7.1 mmt of crude steel in April 2011, 2.1% higher than in April 2010.

Egypt crude steel production in April 2011 was 0.5 mmt, a decrease of -0.8% on April 2010.

In April 2011, the world crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 64 countries was 82.8%, 0.9 percentage points higher than in March 2011. Compared to April 2010, the utilisation ratio remained unchanged.