World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 131 million t (Mt) in September 2015, a -3.7% decrease compared to September 2014. In the first nine months of 2015, Asia produced 828.9 Mt of crude steel, a decrease of -2.0% over the first three quarters of 2014. The EU produced 127.5 Mt of crude steel during the first nine months of 2015, slightly down by -0.3% compared to the same period in 2014. North America’s crude steel production in the first nine months of 2015 was 85.1 Mt, a decrease of -6.8% compared to the first three quarters of 2014. The C.I.S. produced 75.9 Mt of crude steel in the first nine months of 2015, a decrease of -5.8% over the same months of 2014.

China’s crude steel production for September 2015 was 66.1 Mt, down by -3.0% compared to September 2014. Japan produced 8.6 Mt of crude steel in September 2015, a decrease of -7.3% compared to September 2014. India’s crude steel production was 7.3 Mt in September, down by -1.4% on the same month last year.

In the EU, Germany produced 3.4 Mt of crude steel in September 2015, a decrease of -3.9% compared to September 2014. Italy’s crude steel production was 2.1 Mt, down by -3.9% on September 2014. Spain produced 1.3 Mt of crude steel in September 2015, 8.5% more than September 2014. France’s production for September 2015 was 1.3 Mt, a decrease of -8.5% compared to the same month in 2014.

Turkey’s crude steel production for September 2015 was 2.5 Mt, down by -14.1% on September 2014.

In September 2015, Russia produced 5.5 Mt of crude steel, down by -3.2% over September 2014. Ukraine produced 2.1 Mt of crude steel, up by 14.1% compared to the same month in 2014.

The US produced 6.7 Mt of crude steel in September 2015, down by -8.5% compared to September 2014.

Brazil’s crude steel production for September 2015 was 2.5 Mt, a decrease of -13.0% on September 2014.

In the Middle East, Iran produced 1.3 Mt of crude steel in September 2015, down by -6.4% compared to the same month last year.

The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio for the 66 countries in September 2015 was 69.3%. This is -4.0 percentage points lower than September 2014. Compared to August 2015, it is 1.3 percentage points higher.

worldsteel, Brussels