World crude steel production for the 62 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 131 million tonnes in May 2012, an increase of 0.7% compared to May 2011.
The world crude steel capacity utilization ratio for the 62 countries in May 2012 slid to 79.6% from 81.3% in April 2012. Compared to May 2011, it was 1.4 percentage points lower. During the past 18 months, the ratio was at its highest in April 2011 with 82.8% and the lowest ratio was in December 2011 with 70.7%.
China’s crude steel production for May 2012 was 61.2 million tonnes, an increase of 2.5% compared to May 2011.
Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 9.2 million tonnes of crude steel in May 2012, up by 2.0% compared to the same month last year. South Korea’s crude steel production for May 2012 was 6.0 Million tonnes, an increase of 2.0% compared to May 2011.
In the EU, Germany produced 3.7 million tonnes of crude steel in May 2012, a decrease of -9.7% on May 2011. Italy’s crude steel production for May 2012 was 2.6 million tonnes, down by -3.3% on May 2011. In May 2012, France produced 1.5 million tonnes of crude steel, up by 1.3% compared to May 2011. Spain’s crude steel production for May 2012 was 1.3 million tonnes, -13.9% lower than May 2011.
Turkey’s crude steel production for May 2012 was 3.1 million tonnes, an increase of 6.6% compared to May 2011.
The U.S. produced 7.7 million tonnes of crude steel in May 2012, up by 7.4% on May 2011.
Brazil’s crude steel production for May 2012 was 2.9 million tonnes, -11.7% lower than May 2011.