Alacero, the Latin American steel association, has reported that in the January-October period of this year apparent finished steel use in Latin America and the Caribbean totaled 55.3 million mt, up four percent compared with the same period of 2016. The highest increases were registered in Mexico, up 1.4 million mt (+7.0%), in Brazil, up 737,000 mt (+5.0%), in Argentina, rising by 193,000 mt (+6.0%), in Colombia, growing 68,000 mt (+2%), in Dominican Republic, up 32,000 mt (+9.0%), and in Chile up 26,000 mt (+1.0%), while finished steel consumption decreased by 95,000 mt (-18%) in Bolivia, was down 84,000 mt (-15%) in Venezuela, dropped by 79,000 mt (-6%) in Ecuador, decreased by 40,000 mt (-2.0%) in Peru and declined by 36,000 mt (-9.0%) in Panama, all on year-on-year basis.
In the January-October period of this year, regional finished steel trade registered an annual deficit of 9.8 million mt, rising by 10 percent year on year. In the given period, only Brazil and Argentina registered surpluses, of 2.6 million mt and 77,000 mt, respectively, while the largest steel trade deficit was recorded in Mexico (4.6 million mt), followed by Colombia (2 million mt), Chile (1.3 million mt) and Peru (1.2 million mt).
On the other hand, according to advance information, Latin American crude steel production amounted to 5.5 million mt in November this year, down one percent month on month and up by seven percent compared to November 2016.
Meanwhile, in the January-October period this year finished steel production in Latin America and the Caribbean amounted to 44 million mt, up three percent year on year.