World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association rose 1.9% year-on-year to 134.1-million tonnes in August.
China’s crude steel production for August was 68.6-million tonnes, an increase of 3%, while Japan’s production was up 1.5% to 8.9-million tonnes.
India increased production by 9.4% to 8.1-million tonnes, while South Korea’s crude steel production rose 1.8% to 5.9-million tonnes.
In the European Union, Germany made the largest contribution, producing 2.4% more than the prior year, at 3.5-million tonnes, while Italy produced 1.1-million tonnes and Spain’s production fell 11.8% to one-million tonnes.
Turkey’s crude steel production for August was 2.9-million tonnes, up 12.9% year-on-year.
Russia’s contribution slipped 1.9% to 5.9-million tonnes, while Ukraine’s production also fell 4.1% to 1.8-million tonnes.
Steel production in the US dropped by 3.4% to 6.7-million tonnes, while Brazil’s crude steel production for August stood at 2.7-million tonnes, down 1.1%.
South Africa’s steel production was 9.9% lower at 446 000 t, while output in Egypt fell 4.5% year-on-year to 433 000 t.
The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 66 countries was 68.5% in August, compared with 68% in August 2015.