Crude steel output in South America reached 4.1 million metric tons in March 2007, up nine percent from 3.74 million metric tons recorded in March 2006.
Brazil, the region's largest steel producer, saw its crude steel output rise 12.4 percent to 2.79 million metric tons in March, while Venezuela saw production expand 8.8 percent to 455,000 metric tons.
Argentina's steel production dropped 5.7 percent to 477,000 metric tons. On the other hand, crude steel output in Chile amounted to 155,000 metric tons, up 11.1 percent year on year.
Colombia's steel production fell 0.2 percent to 155,000 metric tons. Meanwhile, Peru recorded crude steel production of 75,000 metric tons in March, up 0.5 percent from the same month of 2006.
Paraguay reported crude steel output of 10,000 metric tons last month, up 61.3 percent. Crude steel output in Ecuador rose 33.3 percent to 10,000 metric tons, while in Uruguay it increased 5.3 percent to 6,000 metric tons.