Global crude steel output up in August

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Global crude steel production increased 2.6 percent on a yearly basis and amounted 151.7 million tons in August, the World Steel Association reported on Tuesday.

China remained the world's number one crude steel producer with more than half of world's total crude steel output.

"China’s crude steel production for August 2018 was 80.3 million tons, an increase of 2.7 percent compared to August 2017," the association said in a statement.

Turkey’s crude steel production was 3 million tons in the month, indicating an annual decrease of 5.7 percent.

The crude steel production of the U.S. rose to 7.5 million tons, increasing 5.1 percent during the same period.

The EU produced 12.6 million tons of crude steel in August, up from 12.4 million tons in August 2017.

In the first eight months of the year, global crude steel production reached nearly 1.2 billion tons, rising 4.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Crude steel output in Turkey was also up 1.7 percent during the same period and reached nearly 25 million tons.

The World Steel Association is a prominent industry organization, as its members represent around 85 percent of the global steel production with more than 160 steel producers, and releases monthly crude steel production figures for the 64 countries reporting to the association.