São Paulo – Brazilian exports of steel products totalled US$ 425 million in June, representing growth of 50.2% over May. Shipments totalled 863,000 tonnes, growth of 45.5% using the same basis for comparison. The figures were supplied by the Brazilian Steel Institute (IBS). A higher rate of growth was recorded in terms of revenues as a result of sales of higher value added products, according to the IBS.
In the first half, foreign sales totalled US$ 2.1 billion, a reduction of 43.8% in comparison with the same period of last year. Exports totalled 3.6 million tonnes, e reduction of 30%.
In June, Brazil imported 172,000 tonnes of steel products, the equivalent of US$ 195 million. In the first six months of the year, imports totalled 1.1 million tonnes, growth of 3.2% over the first half of 2008.
In the domestic market, a total of 1.3 million tonnes were purchased in June, growth of 0.8% over May. From January to June, sales totalled 6.9 million tonnes, 40% less than in the same period last year. The increase from May to June, according to the IBS, reflects a "trend of gradual recovery in the domestic market."
Brazilian crude steel production totalled 1.9 million tonnes in June, growth of 2.5% over May. In the case of steel sheets, 1.7 million tonnes were manufactured, growth of 3.1% using the same basis for comparison. In the first half, production totalled 10.6 million tonnes of crude steel and 8.2 million tonnes of sheets, representing reductions of 39.5% and 37%, respectively, in comparison with the same period last year.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
