German steel production has dropped to the lowest level since 1950s, as the whole economy slid into recession from last year, according to the data released on Tuesday.

German metallurgical plants produced 1.28 million tonnes of pig iron and 2.10 million tonnes of raw steel in March 2009, reported by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Tuesday, which was 50.3 percent less pig iron and 49.8 percent less raw steel than in March 2008.

It was the lowest level since 1950s, which was caused by the recession of German economy started last year, according to the report of local news agency, DPA.

Destatis said, that is the highest decrease of pig iron and raw steel production compared with the previous year since German reunification.

Compared to February, the production of pig iron and raw steel dropped by 17.5 percent and 14.2 percent separately, while the total production in the first quarter of 2009 dropped by about 40 percent compared with the same period of last year.