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World crude steel production totaled 881.5 million tons in the first half of 2018, a 4.6 percent increase compared with the prior year, reports the Brussels-based World Steel Association. In June, global production climbed 7.5 percent to 80.2 million tons.

In June, the capacity utilization rate for the 64 countries reporting to WSA was 78.5 percent, a 3.8 percent increase compared with the same month in 2017. The rate was also up 1 percent from May.

U.S. production was up 0.8 percent to 6.8 million tons in June. For the year to date, production was up 2.9 percent to 41.8 million tons. Canadian production declined 12.1 percent in June to 985,000 tons, and is down 2.3 percent to 6.5 million tons for the year to date. Mexico’s production dipped 0.8 percent in June to 1.7 million tons, but its six-month production of 10.4 million tons remains 3.3 percent ahead. 

China’s crude steel production for June 2018 was 80.2 million tons, an increase of 7.5 percent compared with the same month last year. Japan’s production of 8.8 million tons was up 4.2 percent, while South Korea produced 6.1 million tons, a 3.2 percent increase. 

In the EU, Italy produced 2.1 million tons of steel, a 1.5 percent increase from June 2017. France’s production declined 4.4 percent to 1.3 million tons. 

Turkey’s crude steel production for June was 3 million tons, an increase of 0.7 percent. Ukrainian production increased 1.7 percent to 1.7 million tons.