Brazilian long steel consumption this year should decline 10 percent, year-on-year, an ArcelorMittal executive told Brazilian newspaper Valor this week.
Jefferson de Paula, CEO at ArcelorMittal Long Steel Latin America, said the long steel segment should be the least affected by Covid-19, adding that the civil construction sector has been sustaining demand for long steel products.
Demand is mainly coming from civil construction projects, including residential constructions that did not halt despite Covid-19, de Paula said.
De Paula estimated the civil construction sector will consume 400,000 mt less long steel products in Brazil this year. He also said the residential market in Brazil accounts for one third of all the nation’s long steel segment consumption.