World crude steel production in November 2010 was 31.9% higher than in November 2008 when the impact of the global economic crisis on world crude steel production became apparent.

Crude steel production for the first 11 months of 2010 was 1.281bnt, 4.6% higher than in 2008.

However, crude steel production in the EU and North America for the first 11 months of 2010 was still -15.3% and -14.1% respectively less compared to the same period in 2008, while Asia’s crude steel production was 16.4% higher.

World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 114Mt in November - 5.1% higher than November 2009.

World crude steel production for the first 11 months of 2010 was 1.281bnt, 16.2% higher compared to the same period in 2009.

China’s crude steel production for November 2010 was 50.2Mt an increase of 4.8% compared to November 2009.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 9Mt of crude steel in November 2010, 1.4% higher than November 2009. South Korea’s crude steel production for November 2010 was 5.2Mt, 16.4% up compared to the same month last year.

In the EU, Germany’s crude steel production for November 2010 was 3.8Mt, an increase of 8% on November 2009. Italy produced 2.3Mt, 19.3% more than the same month in 2009.

Turkey produced 2.5Mt of crude steel in November 2010, an increase of 15.7% compared to November 2009. The US produced 6.5Mt of crude steel in November 2010, 13.0% higher than November 2009.

Brazil produced 2.6Mt of crude steel in November 2010, a -2.8% decrease over the same month last year.

The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 66 countries in November 2010 remained stable at 75.2% compared to 75.3% in October 2010. Compared to November 2009, the utilisation ratio in November 2010 slipped by 0.8 percentage points.