By Carolina Curiel

ScrapMonster Author

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 November this year. The total monthly output declined by 8.1% to 3.184 Million tonnes (Mt). On the other hand, the North American crude steel output too declined by 4.7% during the month.

The total crude steel production by Argentina during November was 365,000 tonnes, down considerably by 9.8% than the November 2015 production of 405,000 tonnes. Brazil produced 2.426 Million tonnes of crude steel, marginally by 4.8% when compared to 2.548 Million tonnes production achieved during November last year. The output by Chile declined sharply by nearly 10.7% to 90,000 tonnes in November this year. On the other hand, total crude steel production by Colombia dropped by 16.3% to 105,000 tonnes in November this year.

Ecuador’s crude steel output dropped significantly by nearly 40% on year-on-year basis. The crude steel output by Ecuador was 45,000 tonnes in November this year, down when compared with 75,000 tonnes during November last year.  Paraguay’s crude steel output tumbled by 61% from 5,000 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes over the previous year.

The crude steel output by Peru increased modestly by 10.6% year-on-year. The crude steel output of Uruguay dropped significantly by over 43% when compared with the year before levels. Venezuelan production dropped considerably by nearly 60% year-on-year from 100,000 tonnes to 40,000 tonnes.

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

Note: Output in thousands of tonnes

Meantime, the crude steel production by North American countries surged higher by 6.5% during the month of November year-on-year. The production totaled 8.844 Mt in November this year as against 8.304 Mt recorded in November ‘15.

The total crude steel production by Canada during November this year was 930,000 tonnes, declining marginally by 3.4% when compared with the November 2015 production. The US produced 6.226 Million tonnes of crude steel, slightly higher by 6.8% when compared to 5.832 Million tonnes production achieved during November 2015. The total crude steel production by Mexico edged higher by nearly 20% from 1.364 Mt in November ‘15 to 1.635 Mt in November this year.

The Cuban crude steel production decreased sharply by 31% year-on-year to 20,000 tonnes. The crude steel output by El Salvador was estimated at 8,000 tonnes in November this year, down sharply when compared with November last year. Guatemala produced 25,000 tonnes in November, lower by 39.3% when matched with the production during the same month a year before. The crude steel output by Trinidad & Tobago nosedived to zero in November this year from 62,000 tonnes during same month the previous year.

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

Note: Output in thousands of tonnes