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World crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the Brussels-based World Steel Association was 148.3 million tons in March, a 4 percent increase compared with the same month in 2017. The year-to-date total of 426.6 million tons was up 4.1 percent against the prior year. 

The crude steel capacity utilization rate was 74.5 percent in March, a 2.2 percentage point increase compared with March 2017. The utilization rate was up 0.9 percentage points compared with February.

U.S. production in March totaled 7.3 million tons, a 5.3 percent increase compared with the same month last year. Through three months, U.S. steel production was up 2.2 percent to 20.7 million tons.

Canadian steel production increased 4.7 percent to 1.2 million tons in March, while the year-to-date total of 3.5 million tons was up 0.6 percent. Mexican steel production climbed 2.9 percent in March to 1.8 million tons, while the year-to-date figure of 5.1 million tons was up 1.5 percent.

China’s crude steel production for March was 74 million tons, an increase of 4.5 percent compared with March 2017. Indian’s production increased 5.3 percent to 9.2 million tons, while Japan’s production of 9.1 million tons was up 2.2 percent. 

In the EU, Italy produced 2.3 million tons of steel, a 1 percent increase. France production increased 1.5 percent to 1.4 million tons. Spain’s production of 1.3 million tons was down 4.1 percent. 

Turkey’s crude steel production for March was 3.4 million tons, a 7.6 percent increase. Brazilian production also increased 7.6 percent to 3.1 million tons.