World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the International Iron and Steel Institute was 116.4 million tonnes in April. This is 5.6% higher than the same month last year.

Total world crude steel production was 457.3 million tonnes since January to April 2008 up by 5.7% YoY.

In the first four months of 2008, China produced 169.8 million tonnes of crude steel an increase of 9.1%YoY as compared to the same period in 2007. In April 2008, China’s moving annual total growth rate slowed further to 11.0% compared to its MAT growth rate of 20.6% in April 2007. China’s crude steel production for April 2008 was 44.7 million tonnes an increase of 10.2%YoY on April 2007.

Overall, Asia produced 65.7 million tonnes of crude steel in April 2008 compared to 60.5 million tonnes in April 2007 an 8.7% YoY increase in crude steel production.

In North America, the MAT growth rate for April 2008 was 3.4%, continuing its upward trend. US production was an estimated 8.3 million tons an increase of 1.1%YoY from April 2007, Mexico 1.6 million tons up by 10.5% YoY from April 2007 and Canada 1.4 million tons up by 3.7% YoY from April 2007.

The ‘Other Europe’ region of seven countries outside the EU produced 2.7 million tonnes in April 2008 an increase of 3.1% YoY from April 2007. Turkey’s crude steel production was 2.3 million tonnes which was 2.7% YoY higher than the same month last year. Turkey produced 8.2%YoY more crude steel in the first four months of 2008 than over the same period last year.