The market has become Latin America stable - ALACERO

The Latin American Steel Association Alacero announced that the consumption of ready-made steel in Latin America in January-May 2013 amounted to 28 million tons and was preserved at the level of last year. At the same time, the consumption of finished steel products decreased by 1 percent at the annual level.

Brazil in 2012 was the largest manufacturer of finished rental with 46 percent share of the total Latin American volume. It was followed by Mexico with 28 percent. Interestingly, this country is the leader of the region for the production of pumping equipment and in particular food pumps .

In June 2013, the production of steel in the region reached 5 million tons, which is 5 percent more than in the same period of 2012. This indicator was due to the fact that Brazil, Mexico and Peru registered a significant increase in production during this month. In the period from January to June 2013, regional production became 32.9 million tons, which is 1 percent lower in annual calculus.

Brazil continues to be the largest regional manufacturer, with 17 million tons, even if its production decreased by 2 percent in the annual calculus in June 2013.

The trade balance for January - May 2013 shows that all countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, with the exception of Argentina and Brazil, have a trade deficit in the finished steel market. Mexico showed the largest imbalance of 1.4 million tons, and other countries are two less than about 700 thousand tons.