Argentina’s crude steel production fell by 41.4pc to 241,000mt on an annual basis in June, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Crude steel output in June 2019 had reached 411,700mt.
Hot-rolled coil production dropped by 31.7pc to 249,100mt in June from 364,500mt produced in the same month last year, the Argentine Chamber of Steel (Acero) said in a statement.
Cold-rolled coil production also fell by 22pc to 79,200mt in June this year, down from 101,600mt in June 2019. Iron ore output, Acero data noted, decreased by 52.7pc to 113,900mt in June from 240,600mt produced in the same month last year.
H1 output down
Crude steel production decreased by 36.6pc to 1.47mn mt in the first six months of 2020 from 2.3mn mt produced in the same period last year, Acero indicated.
The chamber pointed out that the steelmakers resumed operations in June after suspending activities for over two months this year to protect their employees from COVID-19 infections.