January 2012 world crude steel production decreased, US produktion increased

This is -7.8% lower than January 2011. China’s crude steel production for January 2012 was 52.1 Mt, a decrease of -13% compared to January 2011.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 8.6 Mt of crude steel in January 2012, a decrease of -10.6% compared to the same month last year. South Korea’s crude steel production for January 2012 was 5.1 Mt, -9.6% down compared to January 2011.

In the EU, Germany’s crude steel production for January 2012 was 3.4 Mt, a decrease of -8.5% on January 2011. Italy produced 2.2 Mt of crude steel in January 2012, 4.6% higher than January 2011.

The US produced 7.6 Mt of crude steel in January 2012, an increase of 5.7% compared to January 2011. Brazilian crude steel production for January 2012 was 2.8 Mt, 0.6% higher than January 2011.

The world crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 59 countries in January 2012 rebounded slightly to 71.3%, 0.5 percentage point higher than from December 2011. Compared to January 2011, the utilisation ratio in January 2012 decreased by -9.6 percentage points.