South America's crude steel output increases

South American crude steel production rose 7.4 percent from 3.67 million metric tons in July 2005 to 3.94 million metric tons in July 2006. Brazil, the region's largest steel producer, saw crude steel output expand 9.4 percent to 2.72 million metric tons in July. Ecuador reported the largest output increase in July as crude steel production rose 155 percent to 18,000 metric tons, while Chile's output grew 11.1 percent to 140,000 metric tons and Columbia's production rose 50.2 percent to 103,000 metric tons. However, Uruguay's crude steel output fell 13.6 percent year on year to 5,000 metric tons. Argentina's crude steel production amounted to 482,000 metric tons in July, up 5.9 percent year on year, while Peru's crude steel output increased 12.1 percent to 75,000 metric tons. Venezuela reduced crude steel production 14 percent to 380,000 metric tons, while production in Paraguay rose 48.9 percent to 13,000 metric tons.