According to preliminary data released November 19 by the World Steel Association, global crude steel production was 118 million metric tons (mt) in October, increasing 2.4 percent year-over-year.
In October 2010 Asia produced 72.5 million mt of crude steel, an increase of 4.7 percent from the prior month. Japan produced 9.5 million mt of crude steel last month, 8 percent higher than October 2009, while South Korea's crude steel production for the month was 5.2 million mt, up 11.4 percent compared to the same month last year. China's crude steel production in October fell to 50.3 million mt, a 3.8 percent drop compared to October 2009.
In the EU, crude steel production totalled 15.4 million mt last month, up 4.2 percent from 14.7 million mt produced last October. Germany's crude steel production for October 2010 was 3.8 million mt, an increase of 11 percent from October 2009. Italy produced 2.5 million mt, 11.9 percent more than the same month in 2009, while Spain produced 1.4 million mt, a 12.2 percent decrease compared to October 2009.
Turkey produced 2.7 million mt of crude steel in October 2010, 18.6 percent higher than October 2009.
In the given month, the US produced 6.6 million mt of crude steel, an increase of 9.6 percent compared to October 2009.
Brazil produced 2.9 million mt of crude steel in October 2010, a 4.7 percent increase over the same month last year.
The crude steel capacity utilization rate in October 2010 increased to 75.4 percent from 74.8 percent in September 2010. Compared to October 2009, the utilization rate in October 2010 has decreased by 2.7 percent.