World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 119Mt in January 2011. This is 5.3% higher than January 2010.

However, figures for many countries were not available at the time of the release, thus exceptionally, the January statistics include more estimates than usual. These estimates will be updated in March.

China’s output is estimated by the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) at 52.8Mt, an increase of 0.5% on January 2010

Japan produced 9.7Mt of crude steel, up 10.7% compared to the same month last year. South Korea showed an increase of 24.2% from January 2010, producing 5.6Mt of crude steel in January 2011.

In the EU, Germany’s crude steel production for January 2011 was 3.7Mt, an increase of 4.4% compared to January 2010. Italy’s crude steel production was 2.1Mt, up 10.3% compared to the same month last year. Spain produced 1.4Mt of crude steel in January 2011, an increase of 4.1% on January 2010.

Turkey produced 2.7Mt, a 33.4% increase over the same month in 2010.

US production reached 6.8Mt an increase of 9.4% compared to January 2010.

Brazilian crude steel production for January 2011 was 2.8Mt, 3.8% higher than January 2010.

The world crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 64 countries in January 2011 was 75.6%, an increase from 73.3% in December 2010. Compared to January 2010, the utilisation ratio in January 2011 is 0.4% lower.