Latin American primary iron production rose month-on-month in October but was weaker compared with the same period in 2023, Kallanish learns from the regional steel producers association Alacero.

Regional primary iron production was at 3.11 million tonnes in October, an increase of 175,300t from September but down 0.5% year-on-year. Of this total, pig iron represented 2.63mt, whilst sponge iron amounted to 475,800t. Pig iron output rose 3.3% on-month and was 110,900t more on-year.

Primary iron production in the first ten months of the year was 29.3mt, a drop of 5.1% y-o-y, with pig iron representing 25.3mt.

Brazil, the region’s largest pig iron producer with an 89% share in October’s output, saw production increase by 123,200t m-o-m to 2.34mt. This volume was 12.6% higher on-year. The country’s cumulative production totalled 22.1mt, 3.9% more on-year.

Alacero published the overall Mexican primary iron output in its latest report without specifying pig iron volume. The second-largest producer in the region saw its output amount to 442,900t, a growth of 22,400t versus September but 26.6% weaker y-o-y. Mexico’s January-October production was 4.13mt, 28.4% less y-o-y.

Argentina produced 133,400t of pig iron, approximately 23,700t less on-month and down 26.2% from October 2023. Cumulative output fell by 258,900t y-o-y to 1.46mt.

Of the four other countries monitored by Alacero, Colombia’s October pig iron output was 20,500t, 100t more on-month and 2% higher y-o-y. Colombian ten-month production amounted to 181,200t. This volume was 2.5% more than January-October 2023.

Paraguay’s output was 3,700t, equal to September and 3.6% higher y-o-y. The country’s ten-month production reached 26,400t, an annual growth of 3.6%.

Venezuela did not report pig iron production. October’s sponge iron output was 22,600t, a decrease of 3,000t on-month but 4.1% higher on-year. Ten-month Venezuelan production totalled 236,500t or 5.3% greater y-o-y.

Chile's pig iron output was null in October following Compañía Siderúrgica Huachipato's (CSH) definitive production stoppage. Cumulative output fell by 38.5% y-o-y to 309,000t, Alacero data show.