Steel production in the European Union tumbled 20.4 percent to 12 million tonnes in March, while North American output dropped 9.4 percent to 9.7 million tonnes.
Global crude steel production fell 6 percent to 147.1 million tonnes in March from a year earlier, World Steel Association data showed on Wednesday, as the coronavirus crisis forced the closure of furnaces.
Crude steel output from China, the world's top producer and consumer of the metal, however, has seen only modest production erosion from the coronavirus pandemic, with output down 1.7 percent in March to 79 million tonnes.
But other regions such as Europe and Japan have been hit hard due to slumping demand from automakers and construction projects.
Steel production in the European Union tumbled 20.4 percent to 12 million tonnes in March, while North American output dropped 9.4 percent to 9.7 million tonnes.
In Asia, Japanese output shed 9.7 percent in March to 8.2 million tonnes while India reported a slide of 13.9 percent to 8.7 million.
The steel association, whose members represent about 85 percent of global steel production, cautioned that the figures were preliminary.
"Due to the ongoing difficulties presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, many of this month's figures are estimates from national and regional associations, which may be revised with next month's production update," it said in a statement.
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