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According to the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF), the stainless steel crude steel production increased in the first half of 2011 by 3.8% compared to the same period of 2010. Total production for the first six months of 2011 was 16.4 million metric tons (mmt), a new all-time high. However, the increase in production was restricted to China and the Central and Eastern Europe region, and the other major areas displayed losses instead. Among Asian countries, while Korea and India showed increased production volumes, stainless crude steel production decreased in Japan and Taiwan. Table1 represents stainless crude steel production (in ‘000 metric tons).

Table 1
Region                                        First half year                    +/- %Y-o-Y
                                               2010              2011
Western Europe/Africa           4,303            4,295                     -0.2
Central & Eastern Europe          163               199                    22.3
The Americas                         1,399             1,377                    -1.6
Asia (excluding China)           4,513            4,373                     -3.1
China                                      5,469             6,206                   13.5
Total                                      15,847          16,449                     3.8