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During the early 20^th century, Germany was the largest producer of steel of Europe's Axis powers by a significant margin, and was also the largest steel producer in Europe when compared to Allied and neutral countries. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was the second largest producer of the Axis powers in Europe, before output fell drastically following its dissolution, and then Italy emerged as the second largest steel producer within the group. Iron and steel output among the other Axis nations was much lower in comparison; in the 1930s German trade with Eastern European countries had a significant impact on their economic structure, and the demand for agricultural products from these regions was much greater than the demand for metals.