World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) was 119.5 million metric tons (mmt) in March. This is 5.8% higher than the same month last year.

    Total world crude steel production was 340.7 mmt in the first three months of 2008, a 5.6% increase over the first quarter of 2007.

    In the first three months of 2008, China produced 124.9 mmt of crude steel, an increase of 8.6% compared to the same period in 2007. In March 2008, China¡¯s moving annual total (MAT) growth rate slowed further to 11.5%, compared to its MAT growth rate of 21% in March 2007. China¡¯s crude steel production for March 2008 was 44.9 mmt, an increase of 11.5% on March 2007.

    Overall, Asia produced 66.9 mmt of crude steel in March 2008 compared to 61.5 mmt in March 2007, an 8.8% increase in crude steel production.

    In North America, the MAT growth rate for March 2008 was 3.0%, continuing its upward trend. US production was an estimated 8.5 mmt (an increase of 2.1% from March 2007), Mexico 1.6 mmt (up 5.0% from March 2007) and Canada 1.5 mmt (up 4.8% from March 2007).

    The 'Other Europe' region of seven countries outside the EU produced 2.9 mmt in March 2008, an increase of 7.4% from March 2007. Turkey¡¯s crude steel production was 2.4 mmt, which was 7.5% higher than the same month last year. Turkey produced 10.1% more crude steel in the first quarter of 2008 than over the same period last year.