German Steel Production High in 2004

Steel production in Germany reached its highest level since 1990 last year, data showed on Monday, and industry experts predict output to rise again this year. Some 46.41 million tons of crude steel were produced in German steel plants in 2004, 3.6 percent more than in 2003, with activity boosted by booming demand, particularly in China, the federal statistics office, Destatis, said in a statement. German steel plants operated at 90 percent capacity last year, Destatis added. At the same time, production of pig iron rose by 1.9 percent to 30.04 million tonnes. This year, steel makers are expected to produce some 47 million tonnes of steel, the German industry federation recently predicted. (AFP)