In April this year, Germany's crude steel output decreased by 8.4 percent month on month to 3.71 million metric tons, rising by 3.9 percent compared to April 2013, according to the information provided by the German steel federation Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl (WV Stahl). Meanwhile, in the first four months of the current year, the country's crude steel output increased by 4.3 percent year on year to 15 million metric tons.

On the other hand, in March this year, Germany's total hot rolled steel product output amounted to 3.33 million metric tons, indicating a decrease of 0.8 percent, including 2.21 million metric tons of flat steel products - down 1.7 percent, and 1.12 million metric tons of long steel products - up 0.9 percent, all on-year-on year basis. Meanwhile, in the first three months this year, Germany's total hot rolled steel production totaled 9.38 million metric tons, decreasing by 0.2 percent, including 6.23 million metric tons of flat steel products - up 0.1 percent, and 3.15 million metric tons of long steel products - down 0.6 percent, all on-year-on year basis.