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IISI Reports World Steel Production for January 2008

Figures released by the International Iron and Steel Institute show that world crude steel production for the 67 countries reporting stood at an estimated 113.0 million tonnes in January 2008 — 4.9% higher than for the same month of 2008, and 1.1% higher than the previous month (December 2008). Excluding China, world production grew by 3.6% compared to January 2008, and by 2.4% compared to the previous month (December 2008).
 
Weighing in at 54.9% of total world production for January 2008, production in Asia stood at 62.0 million tonnes in January, 5.5% higher than in January 2007. Representing 36.2% of world production for January, Chinese production was reported at 42.9 million tonnes in January, a 7.3% increase compared to January 2007, and a 1.0% decrease compared to the previous month.
World Steel Production, Jan. '08
Region
% of Jan. '08 Total
Change vs. Jan. '07
EU (27)
15.9%
-0.4%
Other EU
2.4%
+8.2%
CIS
9.6%
+1.9%
N. America
10.2%
+10.5%
S. America
3.8%
+12.7%
Africa
1.3%
-7.9%
Middle East
1.3%
+11.2%
Asia
54.9%
+5.5%
Oceania
0.7%
+10.5%
World
--
+4.9%
 
The twenty-seven countries of the European Union (EU(27)) produced 17.9 million tonnes of crude steel in January, 0.4% less than in January 2007. Comparing January 2008 to January 2007, crude steel production increased by 15.9% in the Netherlands and by 9.1% in Romania, but fell by 9.1% in Greece, by 9.0% in Finland, and by 8.2% in Belgium. Altogether, the countries in the EU27 contributed 15.9% of the total reported world production in January 2008.
 
Production in Other Europe totaled 2.7 million tonnes in January, an increase of 8.2% compared to January 2007. Serbiashowed the largest increase (+10.8%), followed by Croatia (+8.8%) and Turkey(+8.6%). Altogether, these countries contributed 2.4% of the total reported world production in January 2008.
 
Production in the countries of the CIS totaled 10.8 million tonnes in January, reflecting a 1.9% increase compared to January 2007. Kazakhstan reported the largestdecrease (–13.0%) over the period. Altogether, these countries contributed 9.6% of the total reported world production in August 2008.
 
North American production totaled 11.6 million tonnes in January, a 10.5% increase compared to January 2007. Comparing January 2008 to January 2007, the largest percentage increases were recorded in Trinidad and Tobago (+37.9%) and Cuba (+19.0%), while production grew by 11.4% in the U.S. and by 9.8% in Canada over the same period. Altogether, the North American countries contributed 10.2% of the total reported world production in January 2008.
 
South American production for January 2008 totaled 4.3 million tonnes, a 12.7% increase compared to January 2007. The most significant percentage increases took effect in Uruguay (+316.7%) and Argentina (+24.1%), while Paraguay (-32.6%) and Ecuador (–13.6%) logged the greatest percentage decrease. Altogether, the South American countries contributed 3.8% of the total reported world production in January 2008.
 
Production in Africa totaled 1.5 million tonnes in January 2008, a 7.9% decrease compared to January 2007. Comparing January 2008 to January 2007, the most significant percentage increase took effect in Libya (+14.4%), while production fell most significantly in Algeria (–45.8%) and Morocco (–16.8%) over the same period. The African countries contributed 1.3% of the total reported world production in January 2008.
 
Production in the Middle East totaled 1.45 million tonnes in January 2008, an 11.2% increase compared to January 2007. Altogether, the countries of the Middle East contributed 1.3% of the total reported world production in January 2008.
 
Production in Oceania totaled 0.8 million tonnes in August, a 10.5% increase compared to January 2007. Altogether, the countries of Oceania contributed 0.7% of the total reported world production in January 2008.
 
Total world production for January increased 1.1% compared to the previous month, December 2007.