World crude steel production for the 62 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 126 million tonnes in October 2012, an increase of 1.3% compared to October 2011.

China’s crude steel production for October 2012 was 59.1 million tonnes, up by 6.0% compared to October 2011. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 8.8 million tonnes of crude steel in October 2012, a decrease of -6.7% compared to the same month last year.

In the EU, Germany produced 3.7 million tonnes of crude steel in October 2012, a slight increase of 0.3% on October 2011. Italy’s crude steel production was 2.4 million tonnes, down by -10.4% compared to October 2011. France’s crude steel production was 1.3 million tonnes, a decrease of -7.2% on October 2011. Spain produced 1.1 million tonnes of crude steel, -15.6% lower than October 2011.

Turkey’s crude steel production for October 2012 was 2.9 million tonnes, a decrease of -6.9% compared to October 2011.

The U.S. produced 6.9 million tonnes of crude steel in October 2012, down by -3.3% on October 2011.

Brazil’s crude steel production for October 2012 was 3.2 million tonnes, an increase of 7.7% compared to October 2011.

The crude steel capacity utilization ratio for the 62 countries in October 2012 declined to 76.5% from 77.7% in September 2012. Compared to October 2011, it is 1.4 percentage points lower.