Asia's steel production fell 1.3 percent in March

Steel output in Asia fell slightly, by 1.3 percent, during March 2015, compared to the same period in 2014, according to the latest data released by the World Steel Association.

China's total crude steel production during March was 69.485 Mt, down 1.2 percent from 70.329 Mt in March 2014. India produced 7.950 million tonnes of steel, up 10 percent from 7.228 million tonnes in March last year.

Japan reported a decline in crude steel output in March. Steel output in Japan fell from 9.721 million tons in March 2014 to 9.286 million tons in the same month of this year. South Korea's steel production dropped significantly, down 11.8 percent, from 6.406 million tonnes in March 2014 to 5.650 million tonnes in March this year. Taiwan's March steel output rose 3.9 percent to 1.965 million tons, up from 1.891 million tons in the same month last year.

Cumulative results of steel production in the first three months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014: China - 200,103 thousand tons (-1.7 percent), India - 22,782 thousand tons (+9.4 percent), Japan - 26,749 thousand tons (-3.0 percent), South Korea - 16663 thousand tons (-6.5 percent), Taiwan - 5720 thousand tons (+ 5.2 percent).