Germany's steel output up in March

Data from Germany's Federal Statistical Office show that the country's crude steel output rose 2.8 percent year on year to 4.11 million metric tons in March. Pig iron output increased 1.5 percent year on year to 2.64 million metric tons. Compared to previous month, March crude steel production rose 11.2 percent and pig iron production increased 10.6 percent. Crude steel output totaled 11.25 million metric tons through the first three months of the year, down 3.4 percent year on year. In addition, pig iron output amounted to 7.26 million metric tons, down 4.5 percent year on year.