World crude steel figures for June 2005 up from 2004

Brussels— World crude steel production for the 61 countries reporting to the International Iron and Steel Institute was 89.7 million metric tons (mmt) in June. This is 5.2% higher than for the same month of 2004.

Total world crude steel production for the first six months of 2005 is 546.3 mmt, a rise of 7.6% on the same period of 2004. Excluding China, world production stands at 381.5 mmt for the first six months of 2005. This is 0.6% higher than for the first half of 2004.

Chinese production was 28.5 mmt in June, a rise of 33.0% compared to June 2004. Total crude steel production in China is 164.9 mmt for the first half of 2005. This is a rise of 28.3% on the same period of 2004.

Crude steel production in France was 1.6 mmt in June, a fall of 10.1% compared to the same month last year. Italy produced 2.4 mmt of crude steel in June, 5.9% lower than for June 2004.

Russia produced 4.6 mmt of crude steel in June, 14.7% lower than in June 2004. Production in the Ukraine was 2.8 mmt in June, a drop of 8.2% on the same month in 2004.

Provisional figures indicate that crude steel production in the United States was 7.3 mmt in June. This is a decrease of 11.3% compared to June 2004. YTD production in the United States is 47.0 mmt, 2.6% lower than for the first half of 2004.