Steel makers produced 136 million tonnes of raw steel in June — 2.6% less than in May and 2.4% less than in June 2014.

This is the fourth monthly fall during the first six months of this year, according to the World Steel Association (www.worldsteel.org).

During the half-year, the global steel industry produced 813.0 million tonnes, which is 2.0% less than last year.

China’s raw steel production in June was 68.9 million tonnes, down 1.4% from the May and down 0.8% from the previous June. During the first six months of 2015, China’s steel output totalled 409.97 million tonnes, just 0.71% less than the first six months of last year.

Japan’s steel makers produced 8.6 million tonnes of raw steel in June, 3.9% less than in May and 6.2% less than in June 2014. Japan’s year-to-date output is 4.71% less than last year.

Germany, the largest steel maker in the European Union, produced 3.8 million tonnes of raw steel in June, increasing its output by 1.6% from May and 5.8% from the previous June.

Despite the improvements, Germany’s year-to-date steel output is down 1.49% on the same period of last year.