According to the latest data released by the Swedish Steel Producers' Association (Jernkontoret), in January this year Swedish crude steel production amounted to 413,500 metric tons, decreasing by 5.1 percent year on year but up 10.5 percent as compared to December last year.
In the whole of 2011 Swedish crude steel production totaled 4,866,200 mt, with a slight increase of 0.4 percent compared to 2010.
Meanwhile, according to the data released by Statistics Sweden (SCB), Swedish industrial development was negative in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the third quarter, with the country's industry production declining by 1.1 percent. In December last year, basic metal production in Sweden decreased 5.6 percent compared to the same month of 2010, while it fell 1.9 percent in the fourth quarter compared to the previous quarter. On the other hand, Swedish industry for manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment, increased one percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the previous quarter.