According to the Brazilian Steel Institute, Brazilian crude steel production totaled 2.4 million mt in February, reflecting a -11.1 percent decrease compared to January, but a +47.9 percent increase from February 2009.
Rolled products totaled 2.0 million mt in February, a -5.2 percent decrease compared to January and a +74.5 percent increase compared to February 2009.
Year-to-date production for 2010 totaled 5.2 million mt of crude steel and 4.1 million mt of rolled products, which represents an increase of +58.9 percent and +88.5 percent respectively over the same period in 2009.
Domestic sales totaled 1.6 million mt in February, down -2.4 percent from January, but up +64.0 percent from the same month last year. Cumulative sales for 2010 totaled 3.2 million mt, an increase of +66.6 percent compared to the same period last year.
Exports of steel products in February totaled 653.4 thousand mt, worth US$350.4 million. Year-to-date exports for 2010 totaled 1.3 million mt, worth US$723.3 million, an increase of +45.7 percent in volume and +6.1 percent in value compared to the same period last year.
February import volume totaled 360.7 thousand mt (US$312.4 million) for a year-to-date total of 744.5 thousand mt of steel products, representing an +81.0 percent increase from the same period last year.
The national apparent consumption of steel products in February was 1.9 million mt, totaling 3.9 million mt for 2010. These figures represent an increase of +74.3 percent and +73.0 percent respectively over the same period last year.