India's rank in the world order of steel production remained unchanged at fourth slot with an output of 76.7 million tonnes, despite logging the highest growth of 4.2% among major producing nations in 2012.
There was no change in the top three steel producing nations with China, Japan and the US retaining their slots in the respective order in 2012, World Steel Association (WSA) data revealed.
India was world's fourth largest steel maker in 2011 and 2010 as well with a total production of 73.6 MT steel and 69 MT respectively. It had clinched the third spot in 2009, but the US grabbed the slot since 2010.
India's growth in steel output was, however, the highest at 4.3% in 2012 among top five major steel producing nations.
Meanwhile, WSA said,"World crude steel production reached 1,548 MT for the year 2012, up by 1.2% compared to 2011. This is a record for global crude steel production."
"The growth came mainly from Asia and North America while crude steel production in the EU and South America decreased in 2012 compared to 2011," it added.
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Recording a 2.6% increase, Asia produced 1,012.7 MT steel, hiking its share of world steel production slightly from 64.5% in 2011 to 65.4% in 2012.
Country-wise, China produced 716.5 MT, an increase of 3.1% over 2011, and thereby increased its share of world steel output to 46.3% in 2012 from 45.4% in 2011. Japan produced 107.2 MT and South Korea 69.3 MT in 2012.
"In 2012, crude steel production in North America was 121.9 MT, an increase of 2.5% on 2011. The US produced 88.6 MT of crude steel, 2.5% higher than 2011," WSA said.
Production in European Union recorded a 4.7% dip to 169.4 MT. Germany produced 42.7 MT, Italy produced 27.2 MT and France produced 15.6 MT among others.
Output in the CIS also declined by 1.2% to 111.3 MT. Russia produced 68.9 MT.
Annual crude steel production for South America was 46.9 MT in 2012, a decrease of three percent. Brazil produced 34.7 MT, a decline of 1.5% compared to 2011.
"The average capacity utilisation ratio in 2012 was 78.8% compared to 80.7% in 2011,"