South America's crude steel output falls

South American crude steel production fell 1.7 percent from 3.67 million metric tons in June 2005 to 3.61 million metric tons in June 2006. Brazil, the region's largest steel producer, saw crude steel output decline 4.4 percent to 2.38 million metric tons in June. In addition, Uruguay's crude steel output fell 51.7 percent year on year to 3,000 metric tons. Ecuador reported the largest output increase in June as crude steel production rose 69 percent to 12,000 metric tons, while Chile's output grew 9.8 percent to 145,000 metric tons and Columbia's production rose 24.7 percent to 95,000 metric tons. Argentina's crude steel production amounted to 491,000 metric tons in June, up 11.1 percent year on year, while Peru's crude steel output increased 14.8 percent to 74,000 metric tons. Venezuela reduced crude steel production 10.6 percent to 395,000 metric tons, while production in Paraguay rose 37 percent to 10,000 metric tons.