Steel production in the Middle East increased by 4.6 per cent in July, driven by a significant pick-up in UAE output, according to the latest data from the World Steel Association (Worldsteel).

The Middle East’s four main producers produced 2.35 million tonnes of crude steel in July 2015, compared with 2.25 million tonnes in the same month last year.

According to Worldsteel, the UAE boosted monthly steel production by 71 per cent year-on-year to 283,000 tonnes, while Saudi production was estimated to have risen 7.3 per cent to 560,000 tonnes.

The region’s largest steel producer, Iran, reduced steel output by 1.3 per cent to 1.27 million tonnes, while Qatari production dropped 13 per cent to 235,000 tonnes.

North Africa’s largest steel producer, Egypt, saw production drop 8.8 per cent in July to an estimated 465,000 tonnes.

Global crude steel production fell 3.8 per cent year-on-year as major producers including China, Japan and the US reduced output.