Brazilian steel production in November 2009 totaled 2.7 million metric tons (mmt), down 4.3 percent from October and up 15.1 percent from November 2008, the Brazil Steel Institute (IABr) reported on Wednesday.
According to IABr's report, Brazil's rolled steel production in November amounted to 2.0 mmt, representing a 7.6 percent decrease compared to the previous month and a 15.4 percent increase compared to November of last year.
Year to date crude steel production in Brazil through November totaled 23.9 mmt, while rolled steel production totaled 18.2 mmt, decreasing 25.4 percent and 23.4 percent respectively over the same period of 2008.
Brazil's domestic steel sales in November totaled 1.6 mmt, down 4.2 percent over the previous month, though recording an increase of 16.4 percent compared to November 2008. YTD domestic sales through November totaled 14.8 mmt, down 29.1 percent from the first eleven months of 2008. IABr said that analyzing the sectoral distribution of sales of flat products during this period, it was observed that the highest increases were found in the automotive, home appliances, commercial, packaging and container sectors.
Brazil's steel exports in November 2009 reached 666,400 mt, down 36 percent from October, while exports from January to November totaled 8.1 mmt, which is 8.1 percent less than was recorded during the same period of 2008. With regard to imports, 234,100 mt were recorded in November, and 2.1 mmt were imported YTD. These figures are down 14 and two percent, repseictively from last year.
National apparent consumption of steel products was 1.9 mmt in November and 16.8 mmt YTD, representing drops of two percent and 27.8 percent respectively over the same period last year.