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Crude steel production rises 1 %
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Crude steel production rises 1 %
18/09/2012
The apparent steel use in Latin America reached a volume of 16.6 million t during January-March 2012, 10% more than in the same period of 2011. The Latin American crude steel production reached a volume of 22.6 million t during the four months of the year 2012, 1% more than in the same period of 2011. In April 2012, the produced volume reached 6.1 million t, 5% more than in April 2011, due to a 6% growth of Brazil, with a volume of 3.3 million t.
During the observed time period of 2012, the production increased in practically all countries of the region, with the exception of Ecuador, Trinidad & Tobago and Venezuela, which showed declines ranging between -9% in the case of Ecuador and -38% in Venezuela.
Regarding finished steel trade, during January-March 2012, there was a regional deficit of 3.3 million t, significantly higher than the 1.7 million t imbalance of the same period in 2011.
All countries of the region showed a deficit in the period January-March 2012. The greatest deficit was recorded in Mexico, with a volume of 1.1 million t representing 33% of the regional imbalance. Colombia and Brazil have the highest deficits after Mexico, with 531 500 and 356 100 t respectively. The deficit of these three countries is responsible for 60% of the regional total.
The apparent steel use in January-March 2012 reached a volume of 16.6 million t, compared to a significantly lower finished steel production of 13.4 million t.
The regional consumption in January-March grew 10% compared to the same period of 2011, driven mainly by Brazil (+15%) and Mexico (+14%), while Argentina suffered a contraction of -7%. The finished steel production reached a volume of 19.2 million t in January-April 2012. In April 2012 the finished steel production increased to 5.2 million t, 15% more than in the same month of 2011. During the observed period in 2012, the finished steel production fell in Argentina (-2%), Paraguay (-32%), Trinidad and Tobago (-26%) and Venezuela (-35%).
In March 2012, Latin America produced 1.2 million t less than the consumption, of 5.9 million t. The difference was particularly significant in Mexico.
Alacero, Santiago de Chile
