Brazilian crude steel production in November showed robust growth from the previous year due to strong domestic demand, according to the Brazilian Steel Institute (IBS).
The IBS reported that Brazil's steel production in November totaled 2.9 million metric tons (mt), 6.2 percent greater than that in the same month of 2006. Year to date through November, Brazilian crude steel output was up 8.9 percent to 30.8 million mt, compared to the 28.3 million mt in the first 11 months of 2007.
Domestic production of flat products totaled 1.4 million mt in November, 10.7 percent higher than in November of the previous year, due to the strong Brazilian auto industry, as well as increased demand from the oil, gas and naval industries, the IBS said.
Brazil's long product production in November totaled 867,400 mt, up 16.1 percent from the previous year. The IBS attributed the strong growth in longs production to the nation's active civil construction sector.
Brazil is the world's 10th largest steel producer, with an annual output of more than 30 million mt. Earlier this month, the IBS projected national crude steel output to end 2007 at a record 33.958 million metric tons, up from 30.901 million mt in 2006.