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The Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) continued to record positive growth in steel use in 2009 despite significant falls in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, according to World Steel Association (worldsteel). The region's better than average performance, despite the decline in the oil price, is attributable to the strength of Egypt and Iran.
 
According to the worldsteel estimates, in 2009 apparent steel use in the region amounted to 57.5 million metric tons, increasing by 0.8 percent year on year.
 
The region is expected to maintain a relatively resilient growth of 9.5 percent in 2010 and of 8.4 percent in 2011, with apparent steel use reaching 62.9 million metric tons in 2010 and 68.2 million metric tons in 2011, according to worldsteel.