May 2009 World crude steel production down 21 %

World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 95.6 million metric t (mmt) in May. This is 21% lower than in May 2008. China's crude steel production for May 2009 was 46.5 mmt, 0.6% higher than May 2008. Japan produced 6.5 mmt of crude steel in May 2009, down by -38.5% compared to the same month last year. South Korea showed a decrease of -11.8% from May 2008, producing 4.2 mmt of crude steel in May 2009. In the EU, Germany's crude steel was 2.2 mmt in May 2009, a decrease of -47.8% from May 2008. The US produced 4.3 mmt of crude steel in May 2009, a decrease of -50.6% compared to the same month last year. Brazil produced 1.9 mmt of crude steel in May 2009, -36.3% lower than May 2008. Russia's crude steel production for May 2009 was 4.7 mmt, a decrease of -31.2 from May 2008. Ukraine produced 2.4 mmt of crude steel in May 2009, -40% lower than May 2008. World crude steel production for the first five months of 2009 was 449 mmt, a -22.4% decrease over the same period of 2008.

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