Data released by the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) show that global crude steel production for February 2008 rose 5.3 percent year on year to 107 million metric tons.
China is again the world's largest steel producing country with crude steel production of 38.9 million metric tons in February 2008, an increase of 7.0 percent from a year earlier. Total production in the Asian region amounted to 59.182 million metric tons, up 7.3 percent on a year ago.
Germany produced 3.774 million metric tons of crude steel in February 2008, showing a reduction of 1.3 percent year on year. Italy produced an estimated 2.575 million metric tons in the month in question, marking a decrease of 3.6 percent compared to February 2007. Production in the UK was 1.102 million metric tons, down 6.2 percent on year ago. Total production in the EU-27 amounted to 16.6 million metric tons, 2.0 percent lower than February 2007.
Production in Turkey was 2.2 million metric tons, an increase of 14.7 percent compared to February 2007.
Brazil's crude steel production in February 2008 rose 8.1 percent year on year to 2.710 million metric tons.
US produced an estimated 8.050 million metric tons in February 2008, registering a 5.5 percent increase year on year.