The negative overall yearly performance was influenced by the 18.8 percent drop in steel output seen in the last four months of 2008 and the 31.2 percent drop in Q4 2008. In terms of the separate product segments, in 2008 Italy produced 16.7 million mt of long products, down 3.8 percent year on year. Meanwhile, Italian flats production in 2008 decreased by 5.3 percent compared to 2007.
Meanwhile, as stated by Federacciai president Giuseppe Pasini, Italian steel output in Q1 2009 fell 40.9 percent year on year, totaling 4.92 million mt.
With regard to fears over job losses in the domestic steel industry, Mr Pasini stated, "In 2009, Italian mills will not lay off workers. My wish is that the Italian mills will turn to the solution of job-security agreements, and thus face the drop of demand without laying off workers."