BRUSSELS (Commodity Online): World crude steel production for the 66 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 109 million metric tons (mmt) in January. This is 25.5% higher than January 2009.China's crude steel production for January 2010 was 48.7 mmt, an increase of 18.2% on January 2009.

Japan produced 8.7 mmt of crude steel in January 2010, up 36.8% compared to the same month last year. South Korea showed an increase of 32.4% from January 2009, producing 4.5 mmt of crude steel in January 2010.

In the EU, Germany's crude steel production for January 2010 was 3.4 mmt, an increase of 27.7% compared to January 2009. Spain produced 1.4 mmt of crude steel in January 2010, an increase of 51.1% on January 2009. France's crude steel production was 1.1 mmt, up 32.3% compared to the same month last year.

Turkey produced 2.1 mmt of crude steel in January 2010, a 2% increase over the same month in 2009.The US produced 6.1 mmt of crude steel in January 2010, an increase of 48.8% compared to January 2009.

Brazilian crude steel production was 2.7 mmt, 66.6% higher than January 2009. Russia produced 5.2 mmt of crude steel in January 2010, an increase of 33% on January 2009. Ukraine's crude steel production for January 2010 was 2.7 mmt, 28.4% higher than the same month last year.

Australia produced 0.6 mmt of crude steel in January 2010, recording a 38.6% increase over the same month in 2009.The world crude steel capacity utilisation ratio of the 66 countries in January 2010 was 72.9%, an increase from 71.9% in December 2009. Compared to January 2009, the utilisation ratio in January 2010 increased by 11.6 percentage points.

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