By Paul Ploumis

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): According to the recent data published by the World Steel Association, the crude steel production by South American countries dropped significantly during the month of September this year. The total monthly output declined by 4.2% to 3.274 Million tonnes (Mt). The North American crude steel output too declined by 4.7% during the month.

The total crude steel production by Argentina during September was 322,000 tonnes, down considerably by 27.8% than the September 2015 production of 446,000 tonnes. Brazil produced 2.578 Million tonnes of crude steel, marginally by 3.1% when compared to 2.501 Million tonnes production achieved during September last year. The output by Chile recovered sharply by nearly 19.0% to 95,000 tonnes in September this year. On the other hand, total crude steel production by Colombia dropped by 19% to 100,000 tonnes in September this year.

Ecuador’s crude steel output dropped significantly by 26.1% on year-on-year basis. The crude steel output by Ecuador was 50,000 tonnes in September this year, down when compared with 68,000 tonnes during September last year.  Paraguay’s crude steel output tumbled by 36% from 5,000 tonnes to 3,000 tonnes over the previous year.

The crude steel output by Peru increased modestly by 8.1% year-on-year. The crude steel output of Uruguay dropped significantly by over 42% when compared with the year before levels. Venezuelan production dropped considerably by 78.8% year-on-year from 94,000 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes.

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output by the South American region for the initial nine-month period of year 2016 in comparison with the corresponding nine-months from January to September in 2015.

Note: Output in thousands of tonnes

Meantime, the crude steel production by North American countries dropped by 4.7% during the month of September year-on-year. The production totaled 8.943 Mt in September this year as against 9.381 Mt recorded in September ‘15.

The total crude steel production by Canada during September this year was 980,000 tonnes, declining marginally by 1.9% when compared with the September 2015 production. The US produced 6.308 Million tonnes of crude steel, slightly lower by 3.8% when compared to 6.557 Million tonnes production achieved during September 2015. The total crude steel production by Mexico edged lower by 5.5% from 1.694 Mt in September ‘15 to 1.600 Mt in September this year.

The Cuban crude steel production decreased sharply by 24% year-on-year to 20,000 tonnes. The crude steel output by El Salvador was estimated at 10,000 tonnes in September this year, down slightly when compared with September last year. Guatemala produced 25,000 tonnes in September, lower by 33% when matched with the production during the same month a year before. The crude steel output by Trinidad & Tobago nosedived to zero in September this year from 57,000 tonnes during same month the previous year.

The following table provides cumulative crude steel output for the first nine months of 2016 in comparison with those during the same period in 2015.

Note: Output in thousands of tonnes