LatAm crude steel output grows in January

South American crude steel production rose in January, as did Mexico’s, according to the latest worldsteel data monitored by Kallanish.

South American crude steel output totalled 3.75 million tonnes in January, up by 11.4% year-on-year and 2.9% more over the 3.65mt in December 2020. From this total, Brazil’s production was 3mt, up 10.8% y-o-y and 4.1% on-month.

Argentina, the region’s second-largest producer, saw its crude steel output rise by 24.3% on-year in January to 371,000t. This volume, however, was 4.4% down on-month.

Third-largest producer Colombia saw an estimated output of 115,000t, up 10.2% y-o-y and 4.5% over December. The country also saw improved long steel output in 2020 (see separate article).

Peruvian and Chilean estimated production reached 110,000t and 95,000t, respectively. Peru increased output by 8.2%, while Chile registered a drop of 1.9%.

Further north, Mexico’s crude steel production was 9.8% higher in January versus the same period in 2020 at 1.65mt. This volume was also 9.6% more on-month, according to worldsteel data.