New crude steel production records throughout world in 2011. New production records for crude steel were seen across the world in 2011, according to the 2011 annual report by the French Steel Federation. Production reached 1517 million tonnes, up 6.1% on 2010 figures. China has not been left behind and also beat its own record, having produced 684 million tonnes (or 41.5% of global production), up 7.3% on 2010. The six Chinese producers which made it into the 2010 “top 10” of global crude steel producers remain in this category, the four largest of them maintaining their places in the “top five”. However, number one is still ArcelorMittal, whose annual production of 91.9 million tonnes represents 6.1% of global production (compared to 6.9% in 2010). Japan's Nippon Steel Corporation and JFE, and Posco of Korea, make up the rest of this “top 10”. Within the European Union, growth in the activity of sectors using steel exceeded 6% for the second year in a row, although this level remains 10% below the figures from 2007, the year before the crisis. By sector, in Europe: (1) automotive sector: registrations of private cars in the EU were down for the fourth consecutive year, at -1.7%. Of the large countries, only Germany recorded an increase of nearly 9%, whilst Spain and Italy saw decreases of -18% and -11% respectively. In France, the drop was -2.1%. On the other hand, registrations of commercial vehicles and lorries was up 10%; (2) mechanical construction and metalworking: these sectors continued to be well oriented and grew by 11% and 7% respectively, thanks to strong exports, but also to a resumption of investment; (3) construction: this grew slightly, to the benefit of residential, whilst non-residential was down, with severe drops in the south of Europe, whereas northern Europe showed modest recovery. At market level, imports of steel products into the European Union from third countries once again increased considerably (+24%), after a leap of 30% in 2010. Exports remained stable, after modest recovery levels in 2010. Among the main countries exporting to the European Union, China continues to hold a large share, now representing 24% of total EU imports. (IL/transl.fl)