World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association was 107.5 million tonnes in November 2009, up by 24.2% YoY. November 2009 is the third month in a row showing a positive YoY growth rate since September 2008.

Most major steel producing countries showed an increase in crude steel production in November 2009 compared to the same month last year.

China's crude steel production for November 2009 was 47.3 million tonnes, up by 37.4% YoY. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 8.9 million tonnes of crude steel in November 2009, up by 0.5% YoY. South Korea showed an increase of 7.5% YoY from November 2008, producing 4.3 million tonnes of crude steel in November 2009.

In the EU, Germany's crude steel production was 3.5 million tonnes in November 2009, up by 8% YoY. Italy produced 1.9 million tonnes in November 2009, down by 17.2% YoY.

Russia's crude steel production for November 2009 was 5.3 million tonnes, up by 42.6% YoY. Ukraine produced 2.7 million tonnes in November 2009, up by 67.1% YoY. Turkey produced 2.1 million tonnes of crude steel in November 2009, up by 18.3% YoY.

The US produced 6 million tonnes of crude steel in November 2009, up by 26.9% YoY. Brazil's crude steel production in November 2009 was 2.7 million tonnes, up by 15.1% YoY.

Total crude steel production in the 66 reporting countries for the first 11 months of 2009 was 1,090 million tonnes, down by 10.8% YoY. The world crude steel capacity utilization ratio in November 2009 was 75.0%, a slight decline from 76.9% in October 2009. Compared to November 2008, the utilization ratio in November 2009 increased by 10.4 percentage points. (From worldsteel)