According to the latest data released by the Swedish Steel Producers' Association (Jernkontoret), in May this year Swedish crude steel production amounted to 405,700 metric tons, decreasing by 18.2 percent year on year and down 10.3 percent as compared to April.
In the first five months of 2012, Swedish crude steel production totaled 2.1 million mt, with a decrease of 10.9 percent compared to the same period of 2011.
Meanwhile, in the first quarter of the current year Sweden's exports of finished steel, including blooms and billets, amounted to 1 million mt, down 5.2 percent compared to the same quarter of 2011. Swedish finished steel imports in the first quarter totaled 929,100 mt, down 5.6 percent compared to the same quarter of 2011.