Both the Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau (ISSB) and MEPS International have reported that steel production among the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries (United States, Canada, and Mexico) saw an overall drop in the first quarter.
ISSB reports that production in the region in the first quarter fell eight percent year-on-year to 30.2 million tons, while the rest of the Americas saw a four percent year-on-year rise to 11.8 million tons during this period. This compares to the global steel production increase of 10 percent in the first quarter.
MEPS reports that NAFTA crude steel production is forecast to decline by 4.5 million tons in 2007, i.e. down 3.5 percent from the previous year. Specifically, output in the US and Canada is likely to decrease, while Mexican steelmaking is expected to improve.
South American steel production for 2007, MEPS reports, is estimated at 48.5 million tons, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.2 million tons, or seven percent.