German crude steel production in March was 3.9Mt an increase of 9.0% on the previous month but below that for March 2011.
Oxygen steelmaking accounted for 2.360Mt (60.5%) and electric steel production 1.218Mt (39.5%) in March. Pig iron output reached 2.195Mt.
Total hot rolled output reached 3.133Mt of which 2.011Mt was flat products (64.2%) and 1.122Mt was long products (35.8%).
Effective capacity utilisation passed 90%, the first time this has happened since June 2011.
In view of outstanding orders improved output is anticipated for Q2 2012.