Santiago, Chile, April 24th, 2013. Finished steel use1 in Latin America and the Caribbean reached a volume of 10 million tons during Jan/Feb 2013, 1% less than same period of the previous year. In Jan/Feb 2013, finished steel production reached 8.7 million tons.
Production
During Jan/Feb 2013, regional finished steel trade showed a deficit of 1.6 million tons, while imbalance during Jan/Feb 2012 reached 2.1 million tons.
This deficit reached most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the exceptions of Argentina, Brazil and the Dominican Republic. Mexico displayed the most important imbalance of -590 thousand tons followed by Colombia (-312 thousand tons), Peru (-243 thousand tons) and Chile (-214 thousand tons).
In March 2013, crude steel production was 13% lower than during the same month of 2012 and reached 5.2 million tons.
Trade balance
During Jan/Feb 2013, regional finished steel trade showed a deficit of 1.6 million tons, while imbalance during Jan/Feb 2012 reached 2.1 million tons.
This deficit reached most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the exceptions of Argentina, Brazil and the Dominican Republic. Mexico displayed the most important imbalance of -590 thousand tons followed by Colombia (-312 thousand tons), Peru (-243 thousand tons) and Chile (-214 thousand tons).
Glossary
Crude Steel: Steel in its most basic form, coming from the continuous casting process, (slap, billet etc.). To obtain the qualities necessary for usage, this kind of steel needs to pass posterior processes, like rolling etc.
Finished steel or wrought steel: Refers to steel included in one of these 3 groups: Long products (e.g.: reinforcing bars, bars, wire rod, light sections, heavy sections, rails), flat steel (e.g.: sheets and coils, coated sheets, prepainted, stainless steel, chrome-plate sheets, hot dip galvanized sheet etc.) and seamless tubes.
About Alacero
Alacero –Latin American Steel Association- is the organization that brings together the Steel Value Chain of Latin America to promote the values of regional integration, technological innovation, corporate responsibility and social and environmental sustainability. Founded in 1959, Alacero is formed by 52 companies of 25 countries, whose production –of about 70 million annual tons- represents 95% of the steel manufactured in Latin America. Alacero is a Special Consulting Organization to the United Nations and is recognized as International Non-Government Organization by the Republic of Chile, host country of Alacero´s headquarters.