The apparent consumption of liquid steel in Mexico increased 9.4 percent, year-over-year, in April to 2.56 million metric tons (mt), which is at least the sixth consecutive annual increase. In contrast, national production accumulated five consecutive drops, according to data from the Mexican Chamber of the Iron and Steel Industry (Canacero) reviewed by SteelOrbis.
At least in the last six months (since November 2022), the increase reported in April is the highest in steel consumption in the Mexican market. In the accumulated four months to April, consumption increased 7.5 percent or 1.03 million mt to 14.71 million mt.
In contrast, steel production in Mexico accumulated at least five consecutive declines. In April, 1.40 million mt, 8.1 percent less, was manufactured, and in the accumulated to April it totaled 5.62 million mt, 8.1 less compared to the January-April period of last year.
In finished steel products, with the few statistical data available, production accumulated its second consecutive drop. In April, it decreased 3.0 percent, compared to the same month in 2022, to 1.63 million mt. So far this year, the first drop was in March at 0.3 percent, year-over-year.
Consumption of finished steel products in the Mexican market grew 9.6 percent to 2.26 million mt. It is the fifth consecutive increase and the fourth so far this year. In the accumulated January-April it increased 7.8 percent to 9.02 million mt.