In March this year Germany's crude steel output reached its highest monthly level recorded since September 2008, totaling 3.96 million metric tons, according to the information provided by the German steel federation Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl (WV Stahl). As compared to the extraordinarily weak output levels of March 2009, this represents an increase of 91.5 percent. Meanwhile, on month-on-month basis the country's crude steel output rose by 15.79 percent in March.
On the other hand, in the first quarter of this year Germany's crude steel production reached 10.87 million metric tons, rising by 49.4 percent as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
According to WV Stahl, a very high growth rate in German crude steel production is expected in the coming quarter since the bottom levels were reached in the spring of 2009. However, the situation as regards market conditions remains fragile, in particular against the background of the strained situation in the raw material markets.
On the other hand, in February this year, Germany's total hot rolled steel product output amounted to 2.97 million metric tons, up by 32.6 percent, including two million metric tons of flat steel products - up 40.6 percent, and 967,000 metric tons of long steel products - up 18.7 percent, all compared to February 2009.