World crude steel production for the 65 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 139 million tonnes (Mt) in May 2015, a -2.1% decrease compared to May 2014.

China’s crude steel production for May 2015 was 70.0 Mt, a -1.7% decrease compared to May 2014. Japan produced 8.9 Mt of crude steel in May 2015, a decrease of -7.0% compared to May 2014. South Korea’s crude steel production for May 2015 was 6.0 Mt of crude steel, down by -2.6% compared to May 2014.

In the EU, Germany produced 3.7 Mt of crude steel in May 2015, a decrease of -5.4% compared to May 2014. Italy produced 2.0 Mt of crude steel, down by -12.6% on May 2014. France’s crude steel production was 1.4 Mt, an increase of 5.8% compared to May 2014. Spain produced 1.4 Mt of crude steel, a 1.9% increase year on year.

Turkey’s crude steel production for May 2015 was 2.9 Mt, down by -4.3% on May 2014.

In May 2015, Russia produced 6.1 Mt of crude steel, down by -1.9% over May 2014. Ukraine produced 2.2 Mt of crude steel, down by -23.0% compared to the same month 2014.

The US produced 6.8 Mt of crude steel in May 2015, a decrease of -8.5% compared to May 2014.

Brazil’s crude steel production for May 2015 was 3.0 Mt, up by 3.8% on May 2014.

The crude steel capacity utilisation ratio for the 65 countries in May 2015 was 72.1%. It is -3.4 percentage points lower than May 2014. Compared to April 2015, it is 0.4 percentage points lower.

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• [Editor:Yueleilei]