In September, Brazilian crude steel output reached its highest monthly level since October last year, according to the preliminary statistics released by the Brazil Steel Institute.
Brazil's crude steel output in September totaled 2.72 million metric tons, decreasing by 9.9 percent year on year and up 1.49 percent compared to August. Meanwhile, in the January-September period of this year, the country's crude steel production decreased by 31.3 percent compared to the corresponding period of 2008, reaching 18.45 million metric tons.
In September, Brazil's pig iron production amounted to 2.61 million metric tons, declining by 18.8 percent year on year and up 2.31 percent over August, while the country's rolled steel product output decreased by 8.5 percent year on year and was down 1.51 percent month on month. Brazil's semi-finished product output in the month in question increased by 16.7 percent year on year to 635,500 metric tons, registering a month-on-month drop of 3.33 percent.