According to Mexico's National Chamber of Iron and Steel Industry (CANACERO), Mexico reached 18.1 million tons of steel production at the end of 2012--a largely unchanged total compared to 2011.
Steel consumption grew from 21.2 million tons in 2011 to 23.6 million tons in 2012, an increase of 11.2 percent.
Foreign trade of steel products resulted in a remarkable growth in imports, from 7.1million tons in 2011 to 9.6 million tons in 2012. However, exports declined from 5.9 to 5.2 million tons for the same years.
The trade deficit grew 279.5 percent by volume and 89.6 percent in value; in 2011 it was 1.2 million tons at US$3.186 million and in 2012 amounted to 4.5 million tons with a value of US$6.038 million.
The United States reduced its presence as a major source of imports, going from 52 percent to 41.5 percent from 2011 to 2012, as well as Canada, which registered a drop from 7 percent to 6 percent year-on-year.
The representation of steel imports from countries without trade agreement, on the other hand, showed significant growth in the national total. Most notably, South Korea went from 4.4 percent to 8.5 percent; China's share grew from 3.9 percent to 5.4 percent; Brazil increased from 2.2 percent to 5.1 percent; Russia surged from 1.5 percent to 4.7 percent; and Ukraine grew from 1.2 percent to 2.2 percent.