São Paulo – Brazilian production of steel in bulk was 3.14 million tonnes in August, an increase of 6.9% over the same month last year, according to figures disclosed yesterday (18) by the Brazilian Steel Institute (IBS).
According to the organisation, the production of laminates in August reached 2.26 million tonnes, or 3.6% more than in the same period in 2007. The production of long steel, in turn, grew 8.1% and reached 987,900 tonnes, a record.
Always according to the IBS, sales of long laminates on the domestic market reached 859,000 tonnes in the month, an increase of 20%. According to a press statement by the institute, the performance was boosted by the civil construction sector, which is heated due to the expansion of offer of credit and to investment in development in the country.
The organisation informs that 50% of the demand of this sector is for rebar and profiles turned to the civil construction industry.
Sales of flat laminates, in turn, remained stable when compared to August 2007, at 1.09 million tonnes, although sales to the auto industry rose.
On the foreign market, exports of steelworks products rose 25.4% in August when compared to the same month last year, according to the IBS.
*Translated by Mark Ament
