World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 129 million metric tons (mmt) in March 2011 and 372 mmt for the first quarter 2011. This is 7.0%higher than March 2010 and 8.8%higher than the first quarter 2010.

In the first three months of 2011, Asia produced 237.3 mmt of crude steel, an increase of 9.1%over the first quarter of 2010. The EU produced 45.6 mmt of crude steel in the first quarter of 2011, up by 6.9%compared to the same quarter of 2010. North America’s crude steel production in the first three months of 2011 was 28.9 mmt, 6.0%higher than the first three months of 2010.

China’s crude steel production for March 2011 was 59.4 mmt, up 9.0%compared to March 2010. Japan produced 9.1 mmt of crude steel in March 2011, a decrease of -2.7%compared to the same month last year. However, Japan’s first quarter crude steel production figure of 27.7 mmt was 4.4%higher than the same period in 2010. South Korea produced 5.8 mmt of crude steel in March 2011, 14.4%more than March 2010.

In the EU, Germany’s crude steel production for March 2011 was 4.0 mmt, an increase of 0.1%compared to March 2010. Italy’s crude steel production was 2.6 mmt, up 8.6%compared to the same month last year. Spain produced 1.6 mmt of crude steel in March 2011, an increase of 0.3%on March 2010.

Turkey’s crude steel production for March 2011 was 2.7 mmt, an increase of 24.9%compared to March 2010.

The US produced 7.1 mmt of crude steel in March 2011.

Egypt crude steel production in March 2011 was 0.6 mmt, an increase of 9.0%on March 2010.

The world crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 64 countries in March 2011 was 81.9%, a slight decrease from the updated figure of 83.0%for February 2011. Compared to March 2010, the utilisation ratio in March 2011 is 2.5 percentage points higher.