World steel production fell in March

According to the latest statistics released by the Worldsteel Association, steel production in 65 countries was 138,045 thousand tons in March 2015, down 2.7 percent from 141,811 thousand tons in the same month last year.

The total steel production by the EU-28 countries in March this year reached 15 314 thousand tons, a decrease of 0.9 percent compared to the production of 15 453 thousand tons in March 2014. The rest of the European countries smelted 2 989 thousand tons of steel, which is 2.7 percent less compared to 3 072 thousand tons of production achieved during March 2014.

The volume of steel production in the CIS countries during March decreased by 9.6 percent to 8 341 thousand tons compared to 9 232 thousand tons in the corresponding period last year. Total crude steel production in North America fell sharply by 9.8 percent to 9,341 thousand tons in March this year, compared with 10 353 thousand tons in the same month in 2014.

The total steel production in the South American region in March this year fell by 6.8 percent to 3,690 thousand tons. African countries smelted 1,230 thousand tons of steel, reducing production by 7.7 percent compared to 1,333 thousand tons achieved in March 2014.

The production of crude steel in the countries of the Middle East in March this year reached 2,369 thousand tons, up 1.0 percent compared to the output of 2,345 thousand tons in March 2014. Steel output by Asian countries fell 1.3 percent to 94,335,000 tons, compared with 95,574,000 tons in March last year. Oceania's total steel production fell 11.0 percent to 435,000 tonnes in March this year, up from 489 tonnes in March 2014.