Alacero, the Latin American steel association, has reported that apparent finished steel use in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 33.1 million tons in the first half of 2013, in line with the level for the same period of the previous year. Finished steel production reached 27.7 million tons in the first half this year, one percent less than January-June 2012.
During the first half of the current year, regional finished steel trade reflected a deficit of 5.6 million tons, down from 5.9 million tons in the same period during 2012. During the first half this year, all Latin American countries, except Argentina, Brazil and Domminican Republic, presented trade deficits, led by Mexico with an imbalance of 1.5 million mt. Other countries that showed significant deficits were Colombia (875,000 mt), Peru (759,000 mt) and Chile (740,000 mt).
In the first seven months of 2013, regional finished steel production reached 32.4 million tons, a drop of one percent compared to the same period in 2012. Brazil maintained the largest share, with 15.3 million tons (47 percent share of regional production). It was followed by Mexico (8.9 million tons equal to a 27 percent share). On the other hand, production in Colombia and Chile fell 30 percent and 19 percent, respectively, year-on-year. In July this year, finished steel production totaled 4.6 million tons, four percent less compared to July 2012.
Latin American crude steel production amounted to 37.6 million tons during the first seven months of the current year, declining three percent year on year. Brazil continues to be the largest producer of the region, with 19.9 million tons, even though its production decreased two percent compared to the first seven months of the previous year. In July this year, crude steel production in the region was 5.5 million tons, remaining stable compared to July 2012.