Latin American crude and finished steel production closed 2016 showing negative growth, Kallanish learns from the regional steel producers association Alacero.

According to information published by the association, LatAm and the Caribbean area produced 58.7 million tonnes of crude steel, -8% below the volume recorded in 2015.  Finished products output in 2016 at 50.4mt was -5% less than that of a year ago.

LatAm crude steel production in December reached 4.6mt, down -7% y-o-y. During the same period the region produced 3.7mt of rolled products, down by -5% on-year, Alacero confirms.

Brazil, the main producer in the region saw its output falling by over -9% y-o-y to 30.2mt last year, according to worldsteel. Mexico, the second largest producer, saw output rise 4.3% y-o-y to over 19mt.

During the January-November period, total imports decreased significantly and exports remained stable.

Latin America imported 18.6mt of finished steel during the first eleven months of 2016, down -13% y-o-y. Of this total, 64% were flat products, 34% long products and 2% seamless tubes.

Regional exports of finished steel reached 8.0mt, the same level as in January-November 2015. Of this total, 49% were flat products, 41% long products and 10% seamless tube.