World steel output fell 22% in February from the same month last year but China defied the trend and reported a 4.9% increase, the World Steel Association said on March 20.
Output also rose in Iran, where production gained 15.9% from February 2008 to 900,000 metric tons.
Overall production in February was 84 million metric tons, to which China contributed 40.4 million metric tons.
Elsewhere in Asia output declined 24.8% in South Korea compared with February 2008 and 44.2% in Japan.
There were also output declines of 31.6% in Germany, 32.1% in Russia, 33.6% in Ukraine, 54.2% in the U.S. and 39% in Brazil.
The World Steel Association groups about 180 steel producers along with national and regional steel associations and research bodies. The Association says its members produce 85% of the world's steel.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2009
