The apparent consumption of hot rolled coils (HRC) in Mexico registered a surge of 43.8 percent, year-over-year, in June to 483,000 metric tons (mt), the highest volume in at least the last six months, according to data from the Mexican Chamber of the Iron and Steel Industry (Canacero) reviewed by SteelOrbis.
The increase in volume was 147,000 mt, equivalent to 14.7 days of HRC national production, according to June production levels. It is the fourth consecutive month that HRC remains the finished steel product with the highest consumption in Mexico, five times so far this year.
HRC production in Mexico totaled 301,000 mt, down 5.6 percent, year-over-year. This equates to 10 mt average per day. So far this year, that production volume is the third lowest. In this period, in January, the highest volume was registered with 347,000 mt.
National production contributed 62.3 percent of total consumption, 32.6 percentage points less compared to the same month last year.
HRC international trade in Mexico increased 52.9 percent or 73,000 mt to 211,000 mt. This increase is explained by the explosive growth of 152.6 percent or 119,000 mt in HRC imports to 197,000 mt. In contrast, exports decreased 76.7 percent or 46,000 mt to 14,000 mt.
In the accumulated January-June period, consumption increased 15.7 percent to 2.51 million mt, production decreased marginally 0.5 percent to 1.82 million mt. Trade flow decreased 10.3 percent to 854,000 mt, Exports decreased 72.4 percent to 85,000 mt and imports increased 19.6 percent to 769,000 mt.