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October 2004

IISI Reports Crude Steel Production

World crude steel production for the 62 countries reporting to the International Iron and Steel Institute stands at 675.5 million metric tons (mmt) for the first eight months of 2004. This is 8.5% higher than for the same period of 2003. Excluding China, worldwide production is 5.3% higher year-on-year.

Crude steel production in China stood at 23.4 mmt in August, a rise of 21.8% on August 2003. Year-to-date (YTD) production for China is 170.1 mmt, a rise of 21.1% on the first eight months of 2003.

Production for the 25 countries in the European Union is up 8.6% compared to August 2003. YTD production has increased by 5.7% to 128.7 mmt. Germany produced 3.9 mmt of crude steel in August, a rise of 15.1% compared to the same month in 2003. Italy produced 1.5 mmt, a rise of 17.3% on August 2003.

Total production in North America stands at 10.9 mmt in August, an increase of 11.2% on the same month last year. YTD production for the region is 87.6 mmt, up by 5.9% on the first eight months of 2003. Production in Mexico rose by 28.3% compared to August 2003.