Global Steel Production Rises in July

World crude steel production reached 115 million metric tons in July, a 9.6 percent increase over July 2009. China, responsible for 45 percent, or 51.7 million metric tons, of the month’s total, continued to out-produce the rest of the globe, according to the World Steel Association.

Double-digit growth rates show steel producers continuing to recover from the recession. The U.S. led the top ten nations with year-over-year growth of 32.9 percent on 6.7 million metric tons, followed by Germany at 29.7 percent on 3.5 million metric tons, Japan at 20.4 percent on 9.2 million metric tons, South Korea at 16.2 percent on 4.8 million metric tons, and Russia at 11.5 percent on 5.6 million metric tons.

Smaller positive gains were reported from China at 2.2 percent on 51.7 million metric tons and Turkey at 1.3 percent on 2.4 million metric tons.

Countries reporting shrinking steel production included the U.K. with a 5.8 percent dip on 0.8 million metric tons and Ukraine with a 9.6 percent reduction on 2.4 million metric tons.

Overall, world crude steel production levels are still lower than pre-crisis 2008 levels by about 2.1 percent, according to the WSA. China, South Korea and Iran have surpassed 2008 production, while the U.S. Germany, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Japan have not yet met pre-crisis numbers.

The World Steel Association represents approximately 180 steel producers who account for about 85 percent of the world's steel.