Figures released by the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) show that world crude steel production for the 61 countries reporting stood at 92.9 million tonnes in March — 6.5% higher than for March 2004.

Production in the 25 European Union countries stands at 16.4 million tonnes in March, or 17.7% of total international production for the month. Overall, the region’s production stands 2.7% below March 2004 totals, with the most significant decreases reported by Luxembourg (–37%), Spain (–22.3%) and the Czech Republic (–10.8%). Representing 18% of total world year-to-date crude steel production, the EU-25 produced 48.0 million tonnes, 0.3% lower than for the same period in 2004.

Production in Other Europe totaled 2.4 million tonnes in March, representing 2.6% of total March production. Production for the region is 4.4% lower than in March 2004, with year-to-date production now 1.6% lower than YTD 2004. The most significant decreases compared to March 2004 were reported by Croatia (–100%) and Norway (–15.9%).

CIS production totaled 2.4 million tonnes in March, 1.0% higher than March 2004. The most significant changes for the region were reported by Kazakhstan (–46.7%), Moldova (–17.3%) and Uzbekistan (–10.0%). YTD production for the region, which reflects 10.3% of total world YTD production, is 0.2% below YTD 2004.

In North America, production stands at 11.0 million tonnes at the end of March, a fall of 3.1% compared to the same month last year. Reflecting 8.8% of total March world production, The United States produced 8.1 million tonnes, 3.4% less than in March 2004; Canada, representing 1.5% of total world production, fell by 1.7% over the same period, to 1.39 million tonnes in March 2005. First quarter 2005 production for North America is 32.4 million tonnes, a rise of 0.3% compared to the first three months of 2004.

In South America, March production was 1.5% higher than in March 2004. The largest reported increases, reported by Columbia (+33%) and Paraguay (42.7%), were balanced by significant decreases in Peru (–33%) and Ecuador (–30.9%). With YTD production of 11.2 million tonnes slightly (+0.3%) above YTD 2004, the region represents 4.2% of total world YTD production.

Production in Africa, 1.5 million tonnes, was 18.7% higher than in March 2004, with YTD production for the region now 10.8% higher than YTD 2004. However, as the region represents only 1.62% of total world YTD production, the increases are not as significant as they might appear. Similarly, production in the Middle East, which represents 1.34% of total world YTD production, was 12.5% higher in March compared to March 2004, with YTD production 9.4% higher than in YTD 2004.

China produced 27.5 million tonnes of crude steel in March, representing 29.7% of total international production for the month, and a 24.1% increase over the same month in 2004. Total production for the Asian region was 46.0 million tonnes in March, representing 49.5% of total March production. Asia’s production reflects a 15.2% increase compared to March 2004. Year-to-date crude steel production for the region, 131.1 million tonnes, reflects a 13.8% increase compared to 2004.

Oceania reported 0.7 million tonnes of crude steel production for March 2005, representing 0.8% of total world production. March production was 4.3% lower than March 2004, with YTD production now 2.6% below YTD 2004.