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World crude steel production in May totaled 143.3 million tons, a 2.0 percent increase compared with the same month in 2016, the Brussels-based World Steel Association Reports. Year-to-date production of 694.9 million tons was up 4.7 percent from last year.

The global crude steel capacity utilization rate in May was 71.8 percent, 0.5 percentage point higher than the same month the previous year. Compared with April, utilization was 1.8 percentage points lower.

The U.S. produced 7.0 million tons of crude steel in May, an increase of 0.2 percent compared to May 2016. For the year to date through five months, U.S. production was up 2.2 percent to 34.0 million tons.

Canadian production increased 0.3 percent to 1.1 million tons in May, and was up 1.7 percent to 5.6 million tons for the year to date. Mexican production declined 1.0 percent to 1.6 million tons in May, but remained up 12.1 percent at 8.2 million tons for the year to date.

China’s crude steel production for May totaled 72.3 million tons, an increase of 1.8 percent. Japan’s production increased 0.1 percent to 9.0 million tons, and South Korean production declined 2.7 percent to 5.7 million tons.

In the EU, Germany produced 3.8 million tons of crude steel in May, a decrease of 1.4 percent compared with May 2016. Italy produced 2.1 million tons, down 4.1 percent, while French production increased 21.5 percent to 1.4 million tons.

Turkey’s crude steel production for May was 3.3 million tons, up 9.7 percent. Russian production declined 1.5 percent to 6.0 million tons.