Global steel production down 0.1% at 127.9 MT in June

Steel production rose gradually from 851 MT in 2001 to 1,518 MT last year, according to WSA data.

The dip in production in the European Union by 5.4% and relatively slower growth in Asia, particularly in China, led to the output growth going into the negative zone. Steel production also declined in South America, South Africa and the Middle East in June.

While the debt crisis has hit the European steel demand hard, the slower growth in Asia is mainly because of the lower production in China, which generally produces almost half of the global output.

In June as well, China contributed almost half of the global steel output at 60.2 MT.

Germany produced 3.7 MT, a decline of 4%, while Italy's production down by 7.9% at 2.4 MT. Production was down in France and Spain as well by 2.1% and 8.8%, respectively.

India's production, however, increased by 2.1% to 6.38 MT during June this year from 6.25 MT a year-ago period.

The US produced 7.3 million tonnes of crude steel in June 2012, up 0.8% from June, 2011.

The World Steel Association data showed global production of steel in the first six months of the current year growing marginally to 766.9 MT compared to 760 MT in the corresponding period last fiscal.