South America Crude Steel Output Rose 3.2% in January

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The recent production statistics published by the World Steel Association (worldsteel) indicates that South American crude steel production increased by 3.2% in January this year. All countries in the region, except Uruguay and Ecuador recorded production jump during the month.

According to worldsteel statistics, the regional output totaled 3.605 million tonnes (Mt) during the month, as compared with the output of 3.492 Mt in January 2017. The annual crude steel production by the region had increased significantly by 8.7% year-on-year to total 43.7 Mt during the entire year 2017.

The leading producing country in the region was Brazil. The Brazilian output totaled 2.866 Mt, accounting for almost 80% of the total regional crude steel output. The output by the country recorded marginal jump during the month, edging higher by 1.3% from 2.828 Mt output recorded in January last year.

The second largest producer, Argentina recorded significant jump in output during the month. The country’s output surged higher by 18% from 291,000 tonnes in January 2017 to 344,000 tonnes in January this year. In third place was Colombia with 105,000 tonnes. The country’s output too increased sharply by nearly 13% when compared with the output of 93,000 tonnes in Jan ’17.

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Paraguay reported the biggest year-on-year jump in output. The output by the country more than doubled from 2,000 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes. Venezuela too reported nearly 30% surge in monthly production. The country’s output totaled 35,000 tonnes in January 2017, as compared with 27,000 tonnes in January last year. The other countries to report increased production were Chile (100,000 tonnes, +1.2%), Peru (100,000 tonnes, +1.4%).

On the other hand, crude steel output witnessed significant decline in Uruguay and Ecuador. The Uruguayan output was down 17% at 5,000 tonnes, whereas the output by Ecuador edged lower by 4.3% to total 45,000 tonnes.

The global crude steel output had increased marginally by 0.8% to 139.439 Mt in January this year.