S. American crude steel output up in January

Crude steel output in South America reached 3.8 million metric tons in January 2007, up 2.2 percent from 3.7 million metric tons recorded in January 2006. Brazil, the region's largest steel producer, saw its crude steel output rise 4.9 percent to 2.7 million metric tons in January, while Venezuela saw production expand 1.1 percent to 430,000 metric tons. Argentina was the only country that recorded an output decrease in January 2007, with production dropping 18.5 percent to 336,000 metric tons. On the other hand, crude steel output in Chile amounted to 140,000 metric tons, up 0.4 percent year on year. Colombia reported the largest increase in percentage terms last month, as production climbed 22.2 percent to 100,000 metric tons. Meanwhile, Peru recorded crude steel production of 85,000 metric tons in January, up 10.5 percent from the same month of 2006. Paraguay reported crude steel output of 10,000 metric tons last month, up 20.5 percent. Crude steel output in Ecuador rose 4.5 percent to 7,000 metric tons, while in Uruguay it increased 9.1 percent to 6,000 metric tons.