Brazil's crude steel production in January this year rose by 66.6 percent year on year and was up 4.38 percent month on month reaching 2.69 million metric tons, according to the Brazil Steel Institute (IABr).
In the given month, the country's rolled steel production amounted to 2.09 million metric tons, increasing by 104.1 percent as compared to January 2009 and up 3.94 percent over the previous month. Flat rolled steel products accounted for 1.29 million metric tons or 62 percent of the total rolled steel output and soared by 152.2 percent year on year but was down 1.53 percent over the previous month, while long product output reached 800,200 metric tons, up 56.2 percent year on year and up 14.26 percent month on month.
Brazil's steel exports in January totaled 676,000 metric tons, representing a 4.81 percent rise compared to December last year and up 54.34 percent year on year. The revenue generated by these exports amounted to $373 million. Meanwhile, the country's steel imports in January totaled 384,000 metric tons, up 76.15 percent over December 2009 and up 52.38 percent year on year, for a value of $359.1 million. National apparent consumption of steel products rose to two million metric tons, up 13.5 percent over December 2009 and up 68.7 percent year on year.