Crude steel production in Brazil fell by 8.2pc to 2.6mn mt in March, compared the same month in 2019, according to the latest data from the Brazilian Steel Institute (Aço Brasil). Crude steel production in March last year reached 2.8mn.
Flat steel production fell by 17.1pc to 1mn mt in March this year, while rolled steel production was down by 10.7 to 1.83mn mt. Domestic steel sales fell by 10.7pc to 1.47mn mt in March this year compared the same month the prior year. Sales in March last year reached 1.64mn mt.
Brazil steel production and sales
| Products | Q1 2020 | Q1 2019 | % | March 2020 | March 2019 | % |
| Crude steel output | 8.0mn mt | 8.6mn mt | 7pc | 2.6mn mt | 2.8mn mt | 8.2 pc |
| Rolled steel output | 5.6mn mt | 5.8mn mt | 2.6pc | 1.83mn mt | 2.0mn mt | 10.7pc |
| Flat steel output | 3.2mn mt | 3.3mn mt | 3pc | 1.0mn mt | 1.2mn mt | 17.1pc |
| Domestic sales | 4.54mn mt | 4.57mn mt | 0.7pc | 1.47mn mt | 1.64mn mt | 10.7pc |
Steel consumption decreased by 11.1pc to 1.6mn mt in March from 1.8mn mt during the same month last year, while exports increased by 71.4pc to 1.4mn mt. Brazil exported steel worth $724mn in March, up 56.1pc up over the same month in 2019. However, steel imports fell by 39.1pc to 142,000mt.