World DRI output up bu 5.5 percent in June

According to the preliminary data released by the World Steel Association (worldsteel), global direct reduced iron (DRI) production in the first half of 2011 came to 31.1 million metric tons, increasing by 5.5 percent compared to the corresponding period of 2010.
 
Meanwhile, in June this year world DRI output totaled 5.37 million metric tons, keeping the same level recorded in May and up by 5.9 percent year on year.
 
The worldsteel data show that India was the largest DRI producer among the countries surveyed in the first half of 2011. In June, India's DRI output was 2.28 million metric tons, decreasing by 5.2 percent as compared to May levels and up 5.25 percent year on year, followed by Iran and Mexico, with outputs of 820,000 mt and 603,000 mt respectively.