Mexican domestic steel beam IPR (ASTM-A6) prices started April with a small rebound of US$2/mt, closing at $910/mt ex-mill after remaining at the level of US$908/mt ex-mill during the previous two weeks.
In the same period, price of steel beam I (ASTM-A36) fell US$1/mt each week for the last two weeks, to close at US$895/mt ex-mill in the first week of April.
It is anticipated that in the first half of this year, construction activity in Mexico will grow an average of 2.7 percent, even though the year got off to a slow start with a weak 0.1 percent growth in January. Industry sources said that the slowdown the construction sector has experienced in recent months is due to, among other things, expectations placed with the National Infrastructure Program (PNI).
Nevertheless, demand for building materials such as beams, pipes, iron posts and other structural steel has experienced a slight increase along with demand for skilled jobs in construction and civil engineering.