South American crude steel production up 3.4% in June, North output falls

July 24, 2017 04:30:25 AM

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The recent monthly production statistics released by the World Steel Association (worldsteel) suggests that South American countries managed to report marginal growth in crude steel production in June this year. However, the output by the North American region recorded decline during the month.

The South American region produced 3.412 million tonnes (Mt) of crude steel, marginally higher by 3.4% when matched with the production of 3.301 Mt in June last year. The Venezuelan steel output surged by around 72% to 45,000 tonnes. Argentina produced 372,000 tonnes, remaining more or less flat when matched with the year before. Brazil’s output jumped by 4% year-on-year from 2.546 Mt to 2.649 Mt. Chile too reported marginal rise in output over the year. The monthly output by the country totaled 95,000 tonnes, higher by 1.7% over the year. The other country which reported rise in steel output was Peru. The country’s output edged higher by nearly 3% to 100,000 tonnes. Meantime, Ecuador’s output remained flat during the month.

On the other hand, the rise in output by the above countries was offset by huge declines reported by other major producers in the region including Paraguay, Colombia and Uruguay. The output by Paraguay plunged by 75% over the year. Uruguay reported 14% fall in output during the month. Colombian steel production dropped by nearly 10% to total 100,000 tonnes.

Meantime, the crude steel production by North American countries has declined slightly by 2.4% during the month of June year-on-year. The production totaled 9.412 Mt in June this year as against 9.644 Mt recorded in March ‘16. The drop in production was mainly on account of significant production declines in Cuba and Canada.

The total crude steel production by Canada during June this year was 970,000 tonnes, recording 11.5% decline in comparison with the June 2016. The Cuban crude steel production declined even sharply by over 29% year-on-year to 15,000 tonnes. Guatemala too reported decline in output. The US produced 6.707 Million tonnes of crude steel, falling marginally by 1.7% when compared to 6.824 Million tonnes production achieved during June last year. The total crude steel production by Mexico edged higher marginally by 1% from 1.668 Mt in June ‘16 to 1.685 Mt in June this year. The Cuban crude steel production declined even sharply by over 29% year-on-year to 15,000 tonnes. The crude steel output by El Salvador was estimated at 10,000 tonnes in June this year. Also, the crude steel output by Trinidad & Tobago continued to remain at ‘zero’ level.

The cumulative steel output by South American countries totaled 21.231 Mt during the first half of the year. The half-yearly output by the North American region totaled 57.400 Mt.