Projects derived from the Mexico’s National Infrastructure Plan have enabled the country to absorb the volume of rebar that Mexico has stopped exporting to the United States, said Juan A. Reboulen, president of Communication Commission of the National Chamber of Iron and Steel Industry (CANACERO).
"The South American market as well is an attractive market with significant growth rates, especially in the construction industry, reaching levels of up to 2-digit growth in this sector,” he told local media this week.
"Currently they are undertaking major projects in infrastructure that require substantial amounts of rebar, so between the South American market and increasing demand in the Mexican market, Mexico has been able to replace the volume that it has stopped exporting to the US," he said.
According to figures from the US Commerce Department, Mexican exports of rebar to that country from May onward are virtually nil due to the now-settled trade case, which imposed significant duties on Mexican rebar.
The volume of steel rod that Mexico exported to the United States in early 2014 was between 20,000 and 30,000 tons per month, equivalent to between US$15 million and US$20 million.