TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan Iron and Steel Federation Chairman Yoshihisa Kitano said on Tuesday that a year-on-year fall in global crude steel output in September, which was the first drop in 41 months, underlined a slowdown in the world economy.

Global crude steel output in September fell 0.3% from a year earlier to 151.5 million tonnes, the first decline since April 2016.

Kitano, who is also president of JFE Steel, a unit of JFE Holdings (5411.T), also told a news conference that higher steel exports from India and Russia to ASEAN, reflecting a slower economy in Europe and India, are weighing on Asian steel markets.