Downturn in demand for steel. - The steel industry is facing its worst demand downturn since the oil crisis in the 1970s, states a report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). On the other hand, iron ore production has not fallen (+3.6% in 2008 i.e. over 1.7 billion tonnes), leading to a situation of over-production given the fall in demand, which is a direct consequence of the fall in demand for steel products. In 2008, the demand for finished steel products went from 1.4% to 1,197 million tonnes while crude steel production decreased by 1.5% to 1,325 million tonnes. In 2009, global demand for steel is expected to fall by about 15%, although there are signs of resumed demand growth in China. According to statistics of the Fédération française de l'acier, steel production in the European Union fell by 5.6% in 2008. It fell at the same average rate in Germany and the United Kingdom (-5.6%), but was weaker in Spain (-1.9%) and Italy (-3.1%). On the other hand, it fell more sharply in France (-7.1%). In the new EU member sates, production fell very sharply by over 12%. European Union steel demand also fell in 2008 (-4.5%), after four consecutive years of growth of around +4%. The fall was particularly strong during the last quarter (-20%). (I.L./tansl.jl)