LatAm Steel Trade Advanced, Imports Recorded Decline

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  The latest trade data published by the Latin American Steel Association (ALACERO) suggests advancement in regional steel trade. The consumption remained more or less stable, whereas the imports registered decline.

The crude steel production by the Latin American countries totalled 4.828 Mt in November 2019, significantly lower by almost 10% when matched with the same month a year before. The year-to-date production too was down by 8% at 55.722 Mt. The Mexican crude steel production recorded largest decline.

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The LatAm rolled steel output totalled 3.971 Mt in November last year, down by 10% when compared with the prior year. The accumulated eleven-month production in 2019 too recorded notable year-on-year decline by almost 8%.

The imports by the region totalled 1.929 Mt in October last year. Upon comparison with November 2018, this is down significantly by 6%. The accumulated imports until October last year was down by almost 3%. Meantime, exports surged higher by 9% year-on-year to 836,000 tons in October 2019. Argentina recorded 20% expansion in exports, followed by Mexico with 15%. Brazil too reported 12% surge in export volumes. Also, trade deficit dropped by 15% in October 2019 than the same month a year before.