Johannpeter: Imports are the main problem in Latin American steel market

Andre Johannpeter, President and CEO of Gerdau S.A. of Brazil said during the “Regional CEO Panel” held at the World Steel Association’s 49th meeting in Chicago that steel consumption in Latin American market has reached 70 million tons annually. But he also complained that imports were taking away most of the growth. Johannpeter added there were 42 trade cases in the region and 24 of them were against imports from China.

According to Johannpeter, the major question for the Latin American steel industry is how to deal with the imports which get more than 24% of the consumption in the market.