Latin America sees rise in crude steel output

Latin America sees rise in crude steel output

Latin America's overall crude steel production rose 2.5% year-on-year to 5.2 million tons in January 2005. However, January production was 3.7% lower than December 2004. Despite a 3.2% decline in Brazil's crude steel production, the country remains Latin America's leading crude steel producer with 2.6 million tons. Mexico's crude steel production amounted to 1.5 million tons in January, up 8% year-on-year. Crude steel production in Argentina rose 9.3% year-on-year to 419'000 tons, while production in Venezuela grew 4.3% to 380'000 tons. Crude steel production in Chile, Peru and Colombia rose 8.2%, 19% and 21.4% to 138'000 tons, 69'000 tons and 68'000 tons respectively. Guatemala's crude steel production rose 43.5% to 22'000 tons in January. Crude steel production rose 133% in Cuba to 21'000 tons, but fell 22.8% in Paraguay to 10'000 tons. Production climbed 33.9% in Ecuador to 8'000 tons, and rose 21.4% in Uruguay to 5'000 tons. El Salvador experienced a 3.8% decline to 5'000 tons.