Latest data show Chinese crude steel production declined 0.6% yearon-year in October and rose a modest 0.7% on a seasonally adjustedmonth-on-month basis. Chinese steel production has slowedconsiderably this year amid government efforts to curb overcapacity. Inthe developed world, production trends were mixed. Surprisingly,production in Western Europe was stronger than in either Japan or theUS, rising by 0.8%, as a whole.