Latin America’s finished steel consumption increased 2 percent in January-November, year-on-year, to 64.4 million mt, according to data released Tuesday by the region’s steel association, Alacero.
In the period, finished steel consumption increased by 16 percent in Mexico (2.9 million mt), 22 percent in Colombia (707,000 mt), 26 percent in Peru (648,000 mt) and 33 percent in Dominican Republic (115,000 mt).
On the other hand, Venezuela, Ecuador and Chile saw domestic finished steel consumption fall by 39, 14 and 5 percent, respectively, or 1 million, 246,000 and 112,000 mt. In Brazil, finished steel consumption decreased by 7 percent, year-on-year, or 1.6 million mt, Alacero reported.
The association also noted the region’s finished steel imports increased 10 percent in the same period, year on year, to 21.3 million mt. Finished steel imports in Latin America account for 33 percent of the region’s total consumption. In the same period of 2010, that share was only 26 percent, Alacero said. Latin America finished steel exports in the period decreased 2 percent to 7.6 million mt, it said.