World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI) was 116.4 million metric tons (mmt) in April. This is 5.6% higher than the same month last year.

Total world crude steel production was 457.3 mmt in the first four months of 2008, a 5.7% increase over the same period in 2007.

In the first four months of 2008, China produced 169.8 mmt of crude steel, an increase of 9.1% compared to the same period in 2007. In April 2008, China's moving annual total (MAT) growth rate slowed further to 11.0%, compared to its MAT growth rate of 20.6% in April 2007. China's crude steel production for April 2008 was 44.7 mmt, an increase of 10.2% on April 2007.

Overall, Asia produced 65.7 mmt of crude steel in April 2008 compared to 60.5 mmt in April 2007, an 8.7% increase in crude steel production.

In North America, the MAT growth rate for April 2008 was 3.4%, continuing its upward trend. US production was an estimated 8.3 mmt (an increase of 1.1% from April 2007), Mexico 1.6 mmt (up 10.5% from April 2007) and Canada 1.4 mmt (up 3.7% from April 2007).

The 'Other Europe' region of seven countries outside the EU produced 2.7 mmt in April 2008, an increase of 3.1% from April 2007. Turkey's crude steel production was 2.3 mmt, which was 2.7% higher than the same month last year. Turkey produced 8.2% more crude steel in the first four months of 2008 than over the same period last year.

Monthly crude steel production in the 66 countries included in the report, in thousands of metric tons.The 66 countries included in this table accounted for more than 98% of total world crude steel production in 2007

e - estimated
* - not included in totals to avoid double-counting
r - revised