German metallurgical plants produced 1.18 million tons of pig iron and 2.17 million tons of crude steel in May 2009. This is a drop by 54.8 % and 47.8 % respectively as compared to May last year. Currently, however, there was a short term growth in output of pig iron and crude steel in May 2009 with production growing by 12.2% and 15.7% respectively on April.
After adjustment for calendar and season, output of crude steel increased by 5.0% between April and May this year. Despite this short-term positive development it is still too early to speak about a long-term change in trend.
Over the first five months of 2009 output of pig iron and crude steel amounted to 6.71 million and 11.32 million tons respectively in Germany which is a change by 47.0% and 44.1% as compared to the respective period last year. 