World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 117Mt in February 2011 - 8.8% higher than February 2010.

China’s crude steel production for February 2011 was 54.3Mt, up 9.7% compared to February 2010. Japan produced 8.9Mt of crude steel in February 2011, an increase of 5.7% compared to the same month last year.

South Korea produced 5.0Mt of crude steel in February 2011, 25.7% more than February 2010.

In the EU, Germany’s crude steel production for February 2011 was 3.7Mt, an increase of 7.9% compared to February 2010. Italy’s crude steel production was 2.3Mt, up 4.9% compared to the same month last year.

Spain produced 1.4Mt of crude steel in February 2011, an increase of 6.4% on February 2010.

Turkey’s crude steel production for February 2011 was 2.5Mt, an increase of 35.5% compared to February 2010.

The US produced 6.6Mt of crude steel in February 2011, 5.6% higher than February 2010.

Brazilian crude steel production in February 2011 was 2.7Mt, an increase of 11.4% on February 2010.

The world crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 64 countries in February 2011 was 82.0%, a slight increase from the updated figure of 80.9% for January 2011.

Compared to February 2010, the utilisation ratio in February 2011 is 2.7 percentage points higher.