NEW YORK — Many of the world’s largest steelmaking nations recorded a decline in crude steel production in February compared with the same month last year, but with steel powerhouse China boosting its output by nearly 10 percent, overall global output maintained its upward climb.

The 63 countries reporting data to the World Steel Association (WorldSteel) produced 123.26 million tonnes last month, up 1.2 percent from 121.83 million tonnes in February 2012, with year-to-date output 2.7 percent higher at 253.04 million tonnes.

The uptick was largely the result of a 9.8-percent increase in Chinese steel output in February to 61.83 million tonnes—50.2 percent of the world total, according to WorldSteel data—more than offsetting a decline in nearly every other major steelmaking country.

U.S. production last month fell 11.8 percent from a year earlier to 6.66 million tonnes, partially the result of a production shutdown at the former RG Steel LLC.

South Korea logged an 8.5-percent decline in production in February to 4.98 million tonnes; Japanese output fell 3.4 percent to 8.32 million tonnes; Indian production slipped 0.5 percent to an estimated 6.2 million tonnes; Russian production fell 11.9 percent to an estimated 5.16 million tonnes; and Brazilian output declined 6.2 percent to 2.63 million tonnes.