66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association have produced 89 million tonnes in November 2008, down by 19% YoY. The decline was 12.4% in October 2008 as compared to same period in 2007. Total world crude steel production was 1,224.6 million tonnes in the January to November 2008 period, up by 0.9% YoY.
Out of the total, China’s crude steel production for November 2008 was 35.2 million tonnes, down by 12.4% YoY. China produced 463 million tonnes of crude steel in the first 11 months of 2008, up by 2.6% YoY.
Other Asian countries produced 54.1 million tonnes of crude steel in November 2008, down by 11.4% YoY as compared to 61 million tonnes. Japanese production was 8.8 million tonnes, down by 12.9 % YoY. South Korea produced 3.9 million tonnes of crude steel, down by 9 % YoY.
In the EU, Germany produced 3.3 million tonnes of crude steel in November 2008, down by 18.5% YoY. Crude steel production in Italy was 2.3 million tonnes, down by 16.5 % YoY. France produced 1 million tonnes, down by 29.1% YoY.
CIS countries produced 5.8 million tonnes of crude steel, down by 43.1% YoY. Of the total, Russia produced 3.7 million tonnes, down by 36.5% YoY and Ukraine produced 1.6 million tonnes, down by 54.9% YoY.