According to data released by the Latin American Steel Association (Alacero), in the January-August period of this year, Latin American rolled steel output amounted 36.3 million mt, decreasing by 5.8 percent year on year. In the same period, the region’s crude steel production totaled 43.67 million mt, decreasing 5.5 percent year on year.
In August, Latin American rolled steel production fell by two percent year on year to 4.27 million mt, while its crude steel production decreased by nine percent year on year to 4.94 million mt.
Meanwhile, the region’s rolled steel consumption in the first eight months totaled 5.45 million mt, decreasing by 3.6 percent year on year, according to Alacero.
Alacero stated, “Despite the contraction compared to the previous year, the consumption of rolled steel in Latin America has recovered, exceeding expectations made at the beginning of 2019. In relation to July 2018, the reduction in consumption was around 3.7 percent. Even so, the result of consumption in the month was one percent higher than the average seen in the first half of 2019. This positive variation is mainly due to the resumption of imports from China, which have grown again throughout Latin America. In July, Chinese imports from the region increased 5.9 percent compared to June.”