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IISI Reports World Crude Steel Production for March 2007

Figures released by the International Iron and Steel Institute show that world crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting stood at an estimated 110.9 million tonnes in March — 8.6% higher than for the same month of 2006. Excluding China, world production rose 10.4% compared to the previous month (February 2007), but rose only 2.8% compared to March 2006.
World Steel Production, March '07

Region

% of March '07 Total

Change vs. March '06

EU (27)

16.9%

+1.5%

Other EU

2.4%

+8.3%

CIS

9.6%

+8.6%

N. America

9.4%

-11.3%

S. America

3.7%

+9.0%

Africa

1.4%

+12.2%

Midle East

1.2%

+7.0%

Asia

54.7%

+15.4%

Oceania

0.7%

+7.0%

World

--

+8.6%

 
Weighing in at 54.7% of total world production for March 2007, production in Asia stood at 60.7 million tonnes in March, 15.4% higher than in March 2006. Representing 36.2% of world production for March, Chinese production was 40.2 million tonnes in March, a 20.4% increase compared to March 2006.
 
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU(27)) produced 18.8 million tonnes of crude steel in March, 1.5% more than in March 2006. Comparing March 2007 to March 2006, crude steel production increased 13.3% in Austria, and 10.6% in Poland, but decreased 9.4% in Luxembourg. Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 16.9% of the total reported world production in March 2007.
 
Production in Other Europe totaled 2.6 million tonnes in March, an increase of 8.3% compared to March 2006. Bosnia-Herzegovina showed the largest increase (+23.0%) over the period followed by Turkey (+12.4%), while Serbia and Montenegro exhibited the largest (–20.2%) decrease. Altogether, these countries contributed 2.4% of the total reported world production in March 2007.
 
Production in the countries of the CIS totaled 10.7 million tonnes in March, with an 8.6% increase compared to March 2006. Moldova had the largest (+38.2%) increase for the region, while Uzbekistan decreased 6.9% over the period. Altogether, these countries contributed 9.6% of the total reported world production in March 2007.
 
North American production totaled 10.4 million tonnes in March, an 11.3% decrease compared to March 2006. Comparing March 2007 to March 2006, the largest percentage increase was recorded in Guatemala (+13.6%), while production in the U.S. (contributing 7.0% of total world steel production for March) decreased 12.0% over the same period. The production decrease was most significant in Canada (–23.7%). Altogether, the North American countries contributed 9.4% of the total reported world production in March 2007.
 
South American production for March 2007 totaled 4.1 million tonnes, a 9.0% increase compared to March 2006. The most significant percentage increases took effect in Paraguay (+61.3%) and Ecuador (+33.3%), while Argentina (–5.7%) logged the greatest decrease. Altogether, the South American countries contributed 3.7% of the total reported world production in March 2007.
 
Production in Africa totaled 1.6 million tonnes in March 2007, a 12.2% increase compared to March 2006. Comparing March 2007 to March 2006, the most significant percentage increases took effect in Morocco (+123%) and Algeria (+53.1%), while Zimbabwe logged a decrease (–50.0%). Although these changes are significant for each country, their impact on world production is small, as the African countries contributed only 1.4% of the total reported world production in March 2007.
 
Production in the Middle East totaled 1.3 million tonnes in March 2007, a 7.0% increase compared to March 2006. Comparing March to March, the most significant increase for the region was reported by Qatar (+18.3%). Altogether, the countries of the Middle East contributed 1.2% of the total reported world production in March 2007.
 
Production in Oceania totaled 0.7 million tonnes in March, a 7.0% increase compared to March 2006. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed 0.7% of the total reported world production in March 2007.
 
Total world production for March increased 10.7% compared to the previous month, February 2007.