By Paul Ploumis

ScrapMonster Author

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): According to the recent data published by the World Steel Association, the crude steel production by South American countries increased significantly during the month of April this year. The total monthly output surged higher more than 22% to total 3.633 Million tonnes (Mt). Meantime, the North American crude steel output too recorded 3% rise during the month.

The total crude steel production by Argentina during April this year was 367,000 tonnes, considerably higher by 15.2% than the April 2016 production of 319,000 tonnes. Brazil produced 2.895 Million tonnes of crude steel, significantly up by 25.9% when compared to 2.300 Million tonnes production achieved during April last year. The output by Chile too increased sharply by nearly 14% to 105,000 tonnes in April this year. Also, total crude steel production by Colombia increased by 10.4% to 100,000 tonnes.

Ecuador’s crude steel output has dropped modestly by nearly 7.4% on year-on-year basis. The crude steel output by Ecuador was 45,000 tonnes in April this year, down when compared with 49,000 tonnes during April last year.  Paraguay’s crude steel output tumbled by over 63% from 3,000 tonnes to 1,000 tonnes over the previous year.

The crude steel output by Peru declined by 7.9% year-on-year. The crude steel output of Uruguay dropped marginally by 0.3% when compared with the year before levels. On the other hand, Venezuelan production skyrocketed by nearly 50% year-on-year from 13,000 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes.

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output by the South American region for the initial four-month period of year 2017 in comparison with the corresponding four months from January to April in 2016.

Note: Output in thousands of tonnes

Meantime, the crude steel production by North American countries reported marginal increase of 2.9% during the month of April year-on-year. The production totaled 9.555 Mt in April this year as against 9.284 Mt recorded in April ‘16.

The total crude steel production by Canada during April this year was 1.140 million tonnes, up marginally by 4.3% when compared with the April 2016 production. The US produced 6.717 Million tonnes of crude steel, slightly higher by nearly 1.8% when compared to 6.601 Million tonnes production achieved during April last year. The total crude steel production by Mexico edged higher by nearly 7.4% from 1.536 Mt in April ‘16 to 1.650 Mt in April this year.

The Cuban crude steel production increased sharply by 16% year-on-year to 15,000 tonnes. The crude steel output by El Salvador was estimated at 7,000 tonnes in April this year, down sharply when compared with April last year. Guatemala produced 25,000 tonnes in April, remaining unchanged when matched with the production during the same month a year before. The crude steel output by Trinidad & Tobago nosedived to zero.

The following table provides the region’s cumulative crude steel output for the first four months of 2017 in comparison with those during the corresponding period in 2016.

Note: Output in thousands of tonnes