Production capacity in the Brazilian steel industry has gradually improved to 60pc since May, driven by higher demand for long steel products from the construction industry.
However, that still falls short of the industry’s typical capacity levels, which hover around 80pc, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brazilian Steel Institute (Aço Brasil) noted during an August 28 webinar entitled “Brazil steel industry after the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Impeded by the pandemic, Brazilian steelmakers operated at 45pc production capacity in April, Aço Brasil indicated, adding that, in May, June, and July, steel production capacity rose to 52pc, 50pc, and 60pc, respectively, suggesting early signs of recovery.
Brazil’s crude steel production increased by 3.5pc to 2.59mn mt in July from 2.50mn mt during the same month last year, according to Aço Brasil latest figures. Long steel production also increased by 10.6pc to 809,000mt in July from 731,000mt a year earlier.