Brazilian sales of steel in September fell 20.7 percent, year-on-year, reaching 1.5 million mt, according to data released on Monday by the nation’s steel institute, IABr.
The trade group said domestic apparent consumption in the ninth month of the year declined 24.1 percent, year-on-year, to 1.7 million mt, while imports reached 224,000 mt at $188 million.
IABr said Brazil’s crude steel production in September totaled 2.5 million mt, 13 percent down, year-on-year. Finished steel production in September reached 1.7 million mt, 23.1 percent down, year-on-year.
According to IABr, accumulated steel sales for the period of January to September was 14.2 million mt, 14.3 percent down, year-on-year. Domestic apparent consumption and imports in the period reached 16.9 million mt and 2.8 million mt, respectively, with the first diminishing 14 percent, year-on-year.
So far in the year, crude steel output reached 25.3 million mt, 1.2 percent down, year-on-year. Finished steel production in the nine-month period totaled 17.4 million mt, 8.2 percent down, year-on-year.
Reflecting a more appreciated USD and the still weak domestic market, IABr said exports in September reached 1.6 million mt in volume and $680 million in revenues. From January to September, exports totaled 10 million mt and $5.2 billion, up 48.6 percent in terms of volume and 6.1 percent in terms of revenue, both on an year-on-year basis.