Usimar is to increase pig iron capacity to 228'000 tons

Usimar is to increase pig iron capacity to 228’000 tons

Last month, Brazil's largest independent pig iron producer Companhia Siderurgica do Para (Cosipar) commenced a blast furnace with a capacity of 180'000 tons, which raised its current capacity up to 500'000 tons. According to market reports Usina Siderurgica Maraba (Usimar), one of the independent pig iron producers in Brazil, is planning to build a blast furnace in Northern Brazil with a 120'000 tons annual capacity. This new blast furnace will be launched next year and increase Usimar's capacity up to 228'000 tons. Independent pig iron producers association SINDIFER stated that, due to boosted demand mainly from China, the sector is working at full capacity and is estimated to record a 7.5 million tons of production figure for 2003.