Global steel output increased 6.5 percent in the first quarter of this year, and China was among the fastest increasing producers, said the International Iron and Steel Institute (IISI).

Statistics from 61 countries published on IISI website showed that during the first quarter crude steel production increased 26.72 billion tons, registering a growth rate lower than the 8.8 percent in 2004. But China's steel output soared by 23.8 percent to reach 77.8 million tons.

EU output during the first quarter dropped 0.3 percent to 48 million tons. The world's largest steel group, Arcelor, said on March 25 that due to slack European markets, production of all its four plants in Europe would be cut. In North America, US output increased 1.1 percent while Canada's decreased 2.1 percent.

By People's Daily Online