Brazil-based Gerdau announced this week that it will shut down operations this month at its Curitiba and Araucaria plants, in the state of Parana, according to media reports.
The Araucaria plant will remain temporarily closed and operations could be resumed when the country’s steel demand improves. Meanwhile, steel production at Curitiba and Araucaria will be allocated to other plants in the country.
According to Gerdau, steel sales decreased by 11 percent in the third quarter of 2014, year-on-year, which reportedly contributed to the company’s decision. The civil construction segment in Brazil had its second worst performance in October, closing about 1,900 jobs.