Ternium's operating income in the fourth quarter 2009 was US$216.1 million, up 36 percent compared to the third quarter 2009. Operating income in Q4 reflects a 16 percent year-on-year increase. Net income in Q4 was US$194.8 million, an increase of US$90.1 million compared to Q3. Net income in Q4 2009 also reflected a US$543.3 year-on-year increase.
Net sales in Q4 2009 were US$1.4 billion, which reflect a 21 percent year-on-year decrease. Shipments of flat and long products were 1.7 million tons during the Q4 2009, which reflect a 7 percent year-on-year increase.
Sales of flat products during Q4 2009 totaled US$1.2 billion, which reflect a 17 percent year-on-year decrease. Shipments of flat products totaled 1.4 million tons in Q4 2009, which reflect a 12 percent year-on-year increase, mainly due to an increase in apparent demand in Ternium's main steel markets.
Sales of long products were US$146.1 million in Q4 2009, which reflect a 38 percent year-on-year decrease. Shipments of long products totaled 267,000 metric tons in Q4 2009, which reflect a 14 percent year-on-year decrease.
Sales of other products totaled US$49.3 million during Q4 2009, compared to US$78.5 million during Q4 2008. The decrease was mainly driven by lower iron ore shipments and prices. Sales of flat and long products in the North America Region were US$741.0 million in Q4 2009, which reflect a 17 percent year-on-year decrease.
Flat and long product sales in the South & Central America Region were US$566.9 million during Q4 2009, which reflect a 21 percent year-on-year decrease.