Data released by the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) show that global crude steel production for April 2008 rose 5.6 percent year on year to 116.4 million metric tons.
China is again the world's largest steel producing country with crude steel production of 44.7 million metric tons in April 2008, an increase of 10.2 percent from a year earlier. Total production in the Asian region amounted to 65.7 million metric tons, up 10.2 percent on a year ago.
Germany produced 4.031 million metric tons of crude steel in April 2008, showing a decrease of 1.3 percent year on year. Italy produced 2.896 million metric tons in the month in question, marking an increase of 7.2 percent compared to April 2007. Production in the UK was 1.129 million metric tons, down 10.3 percent on year ago.
Production in Turkey was 2.3 million metric tons, an increase of 2.7 percent compared to April 2007.
Brazil's crude steel production in April 2008 rose 7.1 percent year on year to 2.9 million metric tons.
The US produced 8.3 million metric tons in April 2008, registering a 1.1 percent increase year on year.