According to the data released by Argentina's chamber of steel, in the first quarter of this year Argentina's crude steel production totaled 1.1 million metric tons, decreasing 17.5 percent year on year.
In March this year, Argentina's crude steel output amounted to 467,600 metric tons, rising 45.8 percent as compared to the previous month and down 5.9 percent year on year. According to the chamber's announcement, in March the restart of production at one domestic steel plant caused a positive jump in crude steel production compared to the previous month. On the other hand, during March another steel plant began to carry out maintenance work, which will affect production in the sector in the coming months.
Meanwhile, in March Argentina's total hot rolled steel product output amounted to 456,800 metric tons, increasing 29.1 percent month on month and down 6.2 percent compared to March 2012. The country's cold rolled flat steel product output in March rose by 41 percent month on month to 136,800 metric tons, up 21.6 percent as compared to March last year.