Brazilian crude steel production in April dips 4pct MoM

Thursday, 20 May 2010
The Brazilian production of crude steel in April 2010 was 2.7 million tonnes, representing a reduction of 4.3% from March and an increase of 56.6% compared to the same month in 2009.

Regarding the production of rolled products in April, 2.2 million tonnes, representing a decrease of 2.2% compared with the previous month and increased 47.0% compared with April last year. With these results, the combined production in 2010 totaled 10.7 million tonnes of crude steel and 8.4 million tons of rolled, which meant an increase of 58.6% and 70.6% respectively over the same period 2009.

As for domestic sales, the result of April 2010 was 1.8 million tonnes of products, down 3.8% on the previous month. When compared, however, with the same period in 2009, enrolls high of 48.3%. Cumulative sales in 2010, 6.8 million tonnes, grew by 58.2% over the same period last year.

Exports of steel products on April of 2010 reached 787,200 tonnes valued at USD 442.8 million. With this result the exports in 2010 totaled 2.8 million tonnes and USD 1.6 billion, representing an increase of 34.0% in volume and in value by 16.0% compared to the same period last year.

As regards imports, was recorded in April volume of 500,000 tonnes (USD 432.7 million) totaling thus 1.8 million tonnes of imported steel this year, 155.7% above the same period last year.

The national apparent consumption of steel products in April was 2.3 million tonnes, totaling 8.5 million tonnes in 2010. These figures represented an increase of 70.9% and 72.4% respectively over the same period last year.