According to the data released by Argentina's Iron and Steel Producers' Center (CIS), in August this year Argentina's crude steel output amounted to 473,400 metric tons, rising by 8.3 percent as compared to the previous month and up 27.5 percent year on year. August was the third consecutive month in which a month-on-month increase was recorded.
In August, Argentina's hot rolled steel product output surged by 8.4 percent month on month to 507,800 metric tons, while the year-on-year increase was recorded at 46.7 percent, including output of 271,700 metric tons of hot rolled flat steel products - up 4.66 percent month on month and 236,100 metric tons of long steel products, increasing by 13.08 percent.
In August, SICHOCA (Truck Drivers' Union) stopped accepting finished and semi-finished steel product shipments of Argentina's largest steelmaker Ternium Siderar, for eight consecutive days, resulting in a complete shutdown of the company's galvanizing lines and service centers. For this reason, in the given month, the country's cold rolled flat steel product output fell by 7.8 percent month on month to 116,300 metric tons, but still up 10.2 percent as compared to August 2009.
On the other hand, in the first eight months of this year, Argentina's crude steel production totaled 3.36 million metric tons, increasing by 40.8 percent year on year. However, as compared to the January-August period of 2008, the country's steel production in the corresponding period this year indicates a decrease of 14.2 percent.