Brazilian crude steel production in July rose 6.7 percent, year-on-year, to 3 million mt, the nation’s steel association (IABr) said this week.
According to IABr, which kicks off its annual conference on Tuesday, domestic steel sales in July improved 13.1 percent, year-on-year, to 1.6 million mt, while apparent steel consumption in the same period was 1.8 million mt, 12 percent up, year-on-year.
IABr said Brazilian steel imports in July grew 5.9 percent, year-on-year, reaching 216,000 mt and $240 million in terms of value. Brazilian steel exports in July dropped 8 percent, year-on-year, to 984,000 mt, and a value of $627 million.
As for the accumulated period of January to July this year, IABr said Brazilian crude steel production increased 3.4 percent, year-on-year, to 20.2 million mt.
Domestic sales in the January-July period was 10.5 million mt, 10.3 percent up, year-on-year, while apparent steel consumption in the same period reached 11.9 million mt, 9.7 percent up, year-on-year.
Brazilian steel imports in the seven-month period reached 1.5 million mt, 4.3 percent up, year-on-year, while exports in the same period fell 6 percent, year-on-year, to 7.9 million mt.
IABr said Brazil’s steel industry rebound in the first seven months of the year has been “moderate.”