Finished steel imports from China to Central America reached 169589t in Jan-Apr 2013, 56% more than same period of 2012. (Central America consists of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama).

This increase in mainly due to the steady growth of long products imports which increased by a factor of 34 times in Jan-April 2013 y-o-y, from 2008t to 70067t. Flat products imports decreased 8% during de first four months of 2013 to 96711t versus 104906t in Jan-Apr 2012.

At a regional level, Latin America imported 1.41Mt of finished products in Jan-Apr 2013, 20% more than in Jan-Apr 2012. Latin America accounted for 8% of global Chinese exports during the period. The main destinations were: Brazil at 227764t (16% share in the region), Peru with 211905t (15%), Central America (169589t, 12%) and Venezuela (162891t 12%).