Data published by the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) show that global stainless crude steel production only rose 0.3% year on year to 6.6 million metric tons (mmt) in the first quarter of 2006. However, production increased 12.2 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2005. This indicates that demand is recovering from the poor results in the second half of 2005. When compared to the strong first quarter of 2005, Western Europe/Africa is still 1.4 percent behind last year's production level. However, all other regions have increased their production. The highest year on year growth was recorded in Central and Eastern Europe mainly due to the robust recovery of stainless steel production in Russia. The Americas increased stainless steel output 4.1 percent.
Stainless crude steel production (in ’000 metric tons) Q1 Region 2005 2006 % Change Western Europe/Africa 2,448 2,414 -1.4 Central and Eastern Europe 70 82 17.4 The Americas 731 760 4.1 Asia 3,336 3,348 0.4 Total World 6,585 6,604 0.3