World steel output falls in September with drop in China

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Global crude steel production dropped 8.9% year-on-year to 144.4 million tons in September, a trade group said Tuesday.

This stemmed from a steep fall from China, the world's top steel producer, said the World Steel Association.

China's steel output dove 21.2% to 73.8 million tons in September.

India produced 9.5 million tons of crude steel, up 7.2% from the same month last year, while Japan's steel output jumped 25.6% to 8.1 million tons.

US steel production soared 22% to 7.3 million tons.

In September Turkey, the eighth-largest crude steel producer, saw a 2.4% rise in crude steel output, reaching 3.3 million tons.

In the first nine months of the year, global steel production climbed 7.8% year-on-year to 1.46 billion tons.

The World Steel Association is a prominent industry group, with its members representing around 85% of global steel production with more than 160 steel producers.