Global crude steel production for the 71 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) decreased by 1.6% year-on-year to 148.1-million tonnes in January.
The world's biggest steel producer China is estimated to have produced 77.2-million tonnes of crude steel in January – a 6.9% year-on-year decrease.
The Asia and Oceana region's production was 3.6% lower year-on-year, at 107.6-million tonnes, while Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States produced 4% more steel year-on-year at 7.2-million tonnes for January.
The European Union's steel output decreased by 1.8% year-on-year to 10.2-million tonnes, while the Europe (other) region produced 22.5% more steel year-on-year at 3.9-million tonnes.
Production in North America decreased by 2.1% year-on-year to 9.2-million tonnes, with the US having produced 6.8-million tonnes.
Production in South America was also lower, by 6.3% year-on-year, at 3.4-million tonnes.
The Middle East increased its output by 23.1% year-on-year to 4.7-million tonnes, while Africa's output increased by 16.3% year-on-year to two-million tonnes.