Mexican wire rod imports have increased 383 percent in a monthly average in the last two years, according to media reports. Monthly imports of the product went from 4,836 mt in 2013 to 18,545 mt in 2015.
The increase in wire rod imports was the main reason for local producers, such as Deacero, to take “drastic” measures, a report said, adding the long steel producer halted operations at its Saltillo mill, in addition to a “strong” readjustment at its workforce.
A media report said Deacero has fired at least 25 percent of its workforce in the past two years, a fact that is attributed to the growing number of wire rod imports.
“The situation hasn’t improved and the recent announcements of the companies of the sector make evident that we need action,” Juan Antonio Reboulen, institutional relations manager at Deacero said.
Citing data from the nation’s steel association, Canacero, a media report said Mexican steel imports for the first four months of 2015 rose 15.2 percent to 4.4 million mt. The volume represents 32 percent of Mexico’s apparent steel consumption for the four-month period.