Latin American finished steel consumption and both crude and finished steel production increased year-on-year in January 2017, Kallanish learns from trade association Alacero.

Finished steel consumption was up slightly by 1% in comparison to the same period of 2016, while crude steel production and finished steel production grew by 13% and 4% y-o-y, respectively.

During January finished steel consumption totalled 5.2 million tonnes. In Mexico consumption grew to 171,000t, a 9% y-o-y increase. Brazil totalled 114,000t (+9% y-o-y), while El Salvador consumption was 67,000t (+233% y-o-y).

56% of total finished steel output in January were flat products with longs representing 43% and pipes a mere 1%.

Total crude and finished steel production totalled 5.2mt and 4.3mt, respectively. Brazil remained the main producer with a production of 2.8mt of crude steel and 1.8mt of finished products, Alacero says. Alacero`s advanced data for February 2017 shows that crude steel production reached 4.9mt, -6% compared to January, but an increase of 6% y-o-y.