Global steel production in February rose 24,2% year-on-year, to 108-million tons, but was lower than the 109-million tons produced in January, the World Steel Association (Worldsteel) said on Monday.

The world crude steel capacity utilisation ratio in February 2010 was 79,8% according to Worldsteel figures, the highest it has been since September 2008.

The association, the members of which account for 85% of the total steel production, said that crude steel output in February rose year-on-year in all the key steel-producing countries.

Top producer China’s crude steel production increased 22,5% to 50,4-million tons, while Japan produced 8,4-million  of crude steel in February 2010, up 54% compared with the same month last year.

South Korea showed an increase of 25% from February 2009, producing 3,9-million tons of crude steel.

In the European Union, Germany’s crude steel production rose 34,2 to 3,4-million tons, Italy produced 2,2-million tons, an increase of 28,5%, and Spain produced 1,3-million tons of crude steel, a year-on-year increase of 35,8%.

The US produced 6-million tons, an increase of 51.3% compared with February 2009, and Brazilian crude steel production was 2,4-million tons, up 47,9%, Worldsteel said.