According to statistics released by the World Iron and Steel Association on 22 April, crude steel production in 64 countries and regions globally included in the Agency 's statistics rose 15.2 per cent to 169.2 million tons in March 2021, a record high. Moreover, crude steel production in all regions increased year-on-year in March, with Africa having the highest growth of 25.9 per cent.
In March, Asia and Oceania produced 123.8 million tons of crude steel, an increase of 17.6 %. Among them, crude steel production in China was 94.02 million tons, an increase of 19.1% year-on-year; crude steel production in India was 10 million tons, an increase of 23.9% year-on-year; crude steel production in Japan was 8.3 million tons, an increase of 4.6% year-on-year, ending 12 consecutive months The year-on-year decline; South Korean crude steel production was 6.1 million tons, an increase of 4.7% year-on-year.
The crude steel output of 27 EU countries increased 17.5 % to 13.6 million tons in March. Crude steel production in Germany, the largest steel producer, is estimated at 3.6 million tons, an increase of 10.4 per cent year on year, the highest monthly level in nearly four years. Relevant data show that the inventory of flat materials in Germany has reached the lowest point since records.
Crude steel production in the rest of Europe in March was 4.4 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 10.5%. Among them, Turkish crude steel production was 3.4 million tons, an increase of 9.2% year-on-year. Crude steel production in North America was 9.7 million tons, a slight increase of 0.1% year-on-year, of which crude steel production in the United States was 7.1 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 1.0%. Crude steel production in South America was 3.6 million tons, an increase of 8.1% year-on-year, of which Brazil's crude steel production was 2.8 million tons, an increase of 4.1% year-on-year. Crude steel production in the CIS region was 9.1 million tons, an increase of 7.0% year-on-year. Crude steel production in Russia is estimated at 6.6 million tons, an increase of 9.4% year-on-year. Crude steel production in the Middle East is 3.6 million tons, an increase of 6.6% year-on-year. Among them, Iranian crude steel output is estimated at 2.6 million tons, an increase of 10.7% year-on-year.
In the first quarter of 2021, global crude steel production was 486.9 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 10.0%. Except for North America, all other regions achieved year-on-year growth. Among them, the combined crude steel output of Asia and Oceania was 356.9 million tons, an increase of 13.2% year-on-year, the highest increase in the world. The EU produced 37.8 million tons of crude steel, a year-on-year increase of 3.1%. Crude steel production in North America was 28.1 million tons, down 5.2% year-on-year. Crude steel production in South America was 10.9 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 7.1%. Crude steel production in the CIS region was 26.2 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 3.1%. Crude steel production in Africa was 3.9 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 3.4%.
Among the top ten steel-producing countries in the first quarter, only Japan and the United States had a year-on-year decline in crude steel production, while the rest increased year-on-year.