German crude steel production fell slightly last month to 3.45 million tonnes, although this remains 1.5% more than July last year, which was a particularly weak month, says the national steel producers association WV Stahl. Year-to-date tonnages of nearly 26mt show a 3.9% rise, compared to the first seven months of 2013.

In June 2014, the sector reported 3.56mt of crude steel production. Total first-half 2014 production was 22.48mt, up 4.2% y-on-y, WV Stahl confirms. This includes 15.6mt of crude steel via the integrated route from the basic oxygen furnaces (BOF), and 6.93mt of EAF-produced steel. H1 BOF output has grown 6.6%, while EAF production from January to end-June has barely moved, slipping 0.8% year-on-year.

May’s monthly crude output was also greater than in July, says the association. Compared over the longer term, July’s output is below average, despite seasonal factors: This is because of atypical influences, such as inventory movements between the companies’ own stockyards, notes WV Stahl.

Germany is the seventh largest steel producing country in the world and the largest in western Europe having produced 42.6mt of crude steel in 2013 according to the World Steel Association.