Rio de Janeiro – Brazilian steel industry production reached 3 million tonnes in March this year, a 7.4% increase over the same month of 2010. Rolled steel production reached 2.4 million tonnes, a 5.4% increase using the same basis of comparison.
The figures were disclosed today (29th) by the Steel Brazil Institute (IABr in the Portuguese acronym). Year-to-date, production has reached 8.5 million tonnes of raw steel and 6.4 million tonnes of rolled steel (increase of 6.2% and 2%, respectively).
Domestic sales reached 1.9 million tonnes, a 3.7% increase over March of last year, and 5.3 million tonnes in the first quarter, a 5.6% increase over the first three months of 2010.
According to the IABr, exports of steel products reached 871,400 tonnes and reached US$ 641.2 million. In the first quarter, exports reached 2.8 million tonnes, generating US$ 2 billion in revenues. According to the institute, there was a 39.2% increase in volume and a 74.1% increase in value, compared with the first quarter of 2010.
On the other hand, imports have declined by 34.3%, having totalled 866,200 tonnes. In March, 265,500 tonnes of steel were imported, equivalent to US$ 322 million.
Apparent consumption of steel products has declined in Brazil, both in March and in the first quarter, compared with the same periods of last year. There was a decrease of 8.1% and 1.3%, respectively. Last month, 2.2 million tonnes of steel were consumed, elevating first-quarter consumption to 6.2 million tonnes.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
