In June this year Germany's crude steel output amounted to 3.86 million metric tons, increasing by 53.4 percent year on year and down five percent as compared to the previous month, according to the information provided by the German steel federation Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl (WV Stahl). In May, Germany's crude steel output attained its highest monthly volume recorded this year.
Meanwhile, in the first half of this year Germany's crude steel production reached 22.74 million metric tons, rising by 64.4 percent as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
According to WV Stahl, the high growth rates reflected low production levels recorded in 2009 and also the improved business situation for steel mills in Germany, which recovered more rapidly than expected. Nevertheless, the situation relating to market conditions remains fragile in the steel industry due to rising raw material costs, and also due to the increasing risks in the difficult and uncertain financial markets.
On the other hand, in May this year, Germany's total hot rolled steel product output amounted to 3.52 million metric tons, up by 68.1 percent, including 2.4 million metric tons of flat steel products - up 90.5 percent, and 1.12 million metric tons of long steel products - up 34.3 percent, all compared to May 2009.