Turkey's largest flat steel manufacturer, Eregli Demir and Celik Fabrikaları, or Erdemir, is the world's 30th largest steel producer according to a 2009 list.

Erdemir became the 30th largest company after rising 20 places compared to 2008, according to a written statement from the Turkish Iron and Steel Producers Association.

The data from the World Steel Association said Erdemir had increased to 30th spot with a total of 6.5 mln tons of crude steel production.

The company was the 56th company on the list with its 5.4 mln tons of production in 2007 and 50th with its 6 mln tons of steel production in 2008.

As Russian steel manufacturers are not considered within Europe, Erdemir appeared as Europe's fifth largest steel producer for the 2009 data, the statement read. When including Russia in Europe, Erdemir drops to ninth place.

Erdemir will first strengthen its position in the sector with the launch of new production capacities at Iskenderun Iron and Steel, or ISDEMIR, a Turkish steel plant located in southern Turkey, the statement said.

"Within the next few years, the company will continue its march among the world's and Europe's largest steel manufacturers by getting ahead of Russia's Metinvest and Spain's Celsa," the statement read.

The world's leading steel company, Arcelor Mittal, ranked in the top spot on the list despite a 23.7 percent decline in steel production last year although the company still topped the list with its 77.5 mln tons of production.

China's Baosteel, which was the third largest steel company in 2008, ranked second in 2009 despite an 11.6 percent decrease in production.

South Korea's Pohang Iron and Steel Company, or POSCO, ranked third in 2009 due to a contraction in its production.

The second largest company from 2008, Nippon Steel, dropped to fourth place in 2009 after experiencing a 29.3-percent decline in production. Nippon produced 16.3 mln tons of steel last year.

Source: Anatolia News Agency