In the period January-May 2012 Latin American steel consumption grew 13% compared to the same period 2011, driven mainly by Mexico (+16%), Colombia (+11%) and Brazil (+10%). Domestic output, however, fell leading to an increase of imports of 86% to 5.2Mt.
Apparent steel use in Latin America reached 28.6Mt in the five months January-May 2012, 13% more than in the same period 2011.
Crude steel production reached 33.7Mt in the six-months January – June 2012, 2% below that of the same period in 2011.
In June 2012, produced of crude steel was 5.6Mt, a decline of -3% compared with the same month 2011.
Brazil produced 2.7Mt in June, contributing the largest amount from any one country in the region but this was -8% down on June 2011 when it produced 3Mt. The next largest producer was Mexico with 1.6Mt in June 2012.
Argentina saw a drop of -7% in crude steel output compared to June 2011.
Trade of finished steel products for the five-months January-May 2012, saw a rise in the region’s deficit to -5.2Mt, while the imbalance in the same period in 2011 was -2.8Mt.
During this period in 2012, all Latin American and Caribbean countries had a trade deficit in finished steel with Mexico presenting the greatest deficit of 1.8Mt. Likewise, Colombia with 595.507kt and Peru with 587.783kt were among those countries which presented significant deficits.
The production of finished steel reached 28.7Mt in the first six monthe 2012, of which Brazil represented 46% of the output at 13.2Mt. Mexico was the second largest producer in the region at 8.1Mt representing 28% of the region’s output.
In June, production of finished steel reached 4.9Mt, 6% more than in the same month of 2011. Brazil and Mexico at 2.2Mt and 1.5Mt respectively were the countries which stimulated the growth in June 2012. Argentina experienced a decline of -3% compared to the same month of 2011.
The apparent steel use in the region reached 28.6Mt in the period January-May, compared to finished steel production of 23.8Mt.
In May 2012, apparent steel use was 5.8Mt, 16% higher than the 5Mt production of finished steel that month.