During the first half of this year, Ukraine surpassed the US to become the world’s 9th largest producer of pig iron, or crude iron,

During the first half of this year, Ukraine surpassed the US to become the world’s 9^th largest producer of pig iron, or crude iron, according to Worldsteel Association. Ukraine edged out the US because Ukraine’s pig iron production dropped by 2.6%, to nearly 10 million tons, while US production dropped by 26%, to 8.5 million tons. The world’s top eight producers are: China, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Iran, Brazil and Germany. China’s pig iron production during the first half of the year was 500 million tons – more than the combined total of the next 10 countries.