Argentina’s crude steel output surges for second straight month in July

According to the data released by Argentina's Iron and Steel Producers' Center (CIS), in July this year Argentina's crude steel output amounted to 437,300 metric tons, rising by 3.97 percent as compared to the previous month and up 23.08 percent year on year. July was the second consecutive month in which a month-on-month increase was recorded.
 
In July, Argentina's hot rolled steel product output surged by 7.36 percent month on month to 468,500 metric tons, while the year-on-year increase was recorded at 46.82 percent, including output of 259,600 metric tons of hot rolled flat steel products - up 15.12 percent month on month, and production of 208,800 metric tons of hot rolled long steel products - down 0.95 percent as compared to June.
 
In the given month, the country's cold rolled flat steel product output reached 138,700 metric tons, rising by 9.99 percent month on month and up 21.67 percent as compared to July 2009.
 
On the other hand, in the first seven months of this year, Argentina's crude steel production totaled 2.89 million metric tons, increasing by 43.5 percent year on year. However, as compared to the January-July period of 2008, the country's steel production in the corresponding period this year indicates a decrease of 14.9 percent.