According to a report from Alacero, finished steel imports from China to Latin America reached 4.7 million tons between January-November 2013, growing 17 percent versus same period of 2012. Latin America represented 10 percent of the global Chinese exports that accounted for 49.4 million tons during the period.
Main importers of Chinese finished steel during the period were: Brazil (1.2 million tons, representing 26 percent of the Latin American imports), Chile (733,224 tons, 15 percent), Central America (614,943 tons, 13 percent) and Peru (595,875, 12 percent). Comparing January/November 2013 y-o-y, some destinations increased considerably their imports of finished steel products from China: Paraguay (76 percent), Central America (73 percent), Brazil (48 percent), Cuba (37 percent), Ecuador (36 percent) and Dominican Republic (35 percent).
Flat products were the most imported from China to Latin America between Jan/Nov 2013, reaching 2.9 million tons. Among these are sheets and coils of other alloy steel (921,195 tons), hot galvanized steel 693,027 tons) and cold rolled coils (577,051 tons).
Most imported long products from China to Latin America were: wire (661,199 tons) and bars (368,825 tons) to reach a total of 1.1 million tons between Jan/Nov 2013.