Brazilian crude steel output in March this year rose 4.1 percent, year-over-year, to 2.8 million mt, according to a report this week from local steel association, IABr.
Brazilian domestic steel sales in March grew 41.9 percent, year-over-year, to 2.1 million mt. Apparent steel consumption in March reached 2.4 million mt, 50.1 percent up, year-over-year.
Brazilian steel imports in March reached 401,000 mt in volume, 183 percent up, year-over-year, and $363 million in value, 109.7 percent up, also on a year-over-year basis. Brazilian steel exports in March totaled 1.4 million mt in volume, 0.3 percent up, year-over-year, and $911 million in value, a 25.9 percent year-over-year growth.
As for Q1, IABr said Brazilian crude steel production was 8.7 million mt, 6.2 percent up, year-over-year.
Brazilian domestic steel sales in Q1 grew 29 percent, year-over-year, to 5.9 million mt. Apparent steel consumption in the January-March period totaled 6.8 million mt, 32.8 percent up, year-over-year.
Brazilian steel imports in Q1 increased 104.1 percent, year-over-year, in volume to 1.1 million mt, and 67.6 percent up, year-over-year, in value to $944 million. Brazilian steel exports in Q1 reached 2.7 million mt in volume, 17.1 percent down, year-over-year. However, in terms of value, Brazilian steel exports in Q1 totaled $1.7 billion, 6.7 percent up, year-over-year.