World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association was 112 million tonnes in October 2009, up by 13.1% YoY. Following a revision of the September production figures, this is the second month in a row showing a positive growth rate since September 2008.

China's crude steel production for October 2009 was 51.7 million tonnes, up by 42.4% YoY. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan produced 8.8 million tonnes of crude steel in October 2009, down by 12.9% YoY. South Korea showed a decline of 0.7% YoY, producing 4.6 million tonnes of crude steel in October 2009.

In the EU, Germany's crude steel production was 3.5 million tonnes in October 2009, down by 11% YoY. Italy produced 2.2 million tonnes in October 2009, down by 15.8% YoY. Russia's crude steel production for October 2009 was 5.6 million tonnes, up by 24.2% YoY. Ukraine produced 2.7 million tonnes in October 2009, up by 42.9% YoY. Turkey produced 2.3 million tonnes of crude steel in October 2009, up by 25.5% YoY.

The US produced 5.9 million tonnes of crude steel in October 2009, down by 12.4% YoY.

Total crude steel production in the 66 reporting countries for the first 10 months of 2009 was 982 million tonnes, down by 13.5% YoY.

World crude steel capacity utilization has been steadily improving since its lowest point in December 2008. In October 2009, the world total capacity utilization ratio was 76.0%, 17.8 percentage points higher than December 2008.