In April this year Germany's crude steel output amounted to 3.88 million metric tons, increasing by 107.2 percent year on year but down two percent as compared to the 18-month high output level in March, according to the information provided by the German steel federation Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl (WV Stahl). April was the second straight month for which a capacity utilization level of above 90 percent was recorded.
On the other hand, in the January-April period of this year Germany's crude steel production reached 14.82 million metric tons, rising by 61.9 percent as compared to the corresponding period of last year.
WV Stahl said that the high growth rates reflect the base effect arising from the extremely low production levels registered in the corresponding period of 2009.
On the other hand, in March this year, Germany's total hot rolled steel product output amounted to 3.42 million metric tons, up by 66.5 percent, including 2.29 million metric tons of flat steel products - up 74.5 percent, and 1.14 million metric tons of long steel products - up 52.4 percent, all compared to March 2009.