08/26/2008 09h06
Record steel production in July
Valor Econômico - 08/26/2008
The steel plants installed in the country produced 20.6 million tons of raw steel until July, 7.5% higher than in the same period of 2007. The data was released yesterday by the Brazilian Steel Institute (IBS). From this total, 13.1 million tons were sold in the domestic market, whereas 2.1 million tons were sold abroad. The figures confirm the trend of a strong internal demand, pushed by the growth of the car sector, the sector of industrial machinery and civil construction, seen throughout the year. The July production set a record, at 3.2 million tons, growth of 11.5% compared to the same month of 2007. Laminated steel amounted 2.2 million tons in the month, same volume compared to the same month of last year, whereas the production of long steel set a record, reaching 974.2 thousand tons, that is, 11.9% above the same month of 2007. The sales of long steel in the domestic market grew 32.3% in the month and the sale of flat steel, 7.8%. Exportations fell 5.1% in volume and increased 18.6% in value until July, confirming an increase in the external prices of the product. In the month, the plants sold US$ 765 million abroad, that is, 78.7% more than in the same month of 2007. The volume sold abroad also grew 29.4% in the month. The figures from the IBS show that, in the segment of laminated steel, the performance of long steel is more prominent than that of flat steel because of the resumption of civil construction. Until July, the plants produced 15.1 million tons of laminated steel, 2.5% more than in 2007. From such total, 6.3 million tons are made of long steel (12% more than in 2007) and 8.5 million tons are flat steel that, despite the greater volume, declined 3.4% compared to the same period of 2007. From January to July internal sales of long steel grew 26.9% and, in July alone, they grew 32.2%. The internal sales of flat iron in the seven months of the year increased 12.2% and, in the month, 7.8%.
