Europe’s stainless steel output totaled 2 million tons in the first quarter of this year, increasing by 20% from a quarter ago and rising by 3% year on year, according to statistics released by the Germany-based service centre Damstahl.

In the first quarter of this year, the combined stainless steel output in Germany, Sweden and Slovenia totaled 500,000 tons, decreasing by 13% year on year and rising by 14% from a quarter ago.

Among them, Germany’s output decreased by 16% year on year due to lower output at Outokumpu's Krefeld melt shop.