According to the association, crude steel production in Latin America totaled 55.5 million tons in 2025, down 2.4 percent from the previous year, while rolled steel production totaled 50.0 million tons, down 3.6 percent year-on-year. The Association noted that this is the fourth consecutive year of reductions, with production levels comparable only to those recorded during the pandemic.
Imports rose to record levels, trade deficit widened
The association reported that steel imports reached a record 30.0 million tons in 2025, an increase of 6.3 percent year-on-year. As a result, imports accounted for 40.4 percent of apparent consumption, which is the highest level in historical records. At the same time, exports decreased to 6.1 million tons, which is 10.6 percent less than in the same period last year, resulting in a regional trade deficit of 23.9 million tons, which is the largest negative balance in the history of observations.
Consumption is increasing slightly, led by Argentina
Despite the decline in production, the association said that the apparent consumption of rolled steel reached 74.1 million tons in 2025, an increase of 1.3 percent year-on-year. At the country level, Argentina recorded the strongest growth
