Apparent consumption of rolled steel plate in Mexico increased 68.7 percent in July, year-over-year, to 226,000 metric tons (mt), the sixth consecutive annual increase and the most pronounced in at least so far of the year, according to data from the Mexican Chamber of the Iron and Steel Industry (Canacero) reviewed by SteelOrbis.
Additionally, plate steel consumption increased 69.5 percent, year-over-year, in July to 161,000 mt. So far this year, it has recorded six annual increases: 29.7 percent in January, 55.4 percent in February, 37.8 percent in March, 98.7 percent in May, 120.5 percent in June and 69.5 percent in July.
Regarding production, rolled plate increased 41.4 percent, year-over-year, to 181,000 mt, it is the seventh consecutive annual increase and the July volume is the third highest so far this year, surpassed by 204,000 mt of March and 252,000 mt in February.
In July the import of sheet plates doubled, totaling 111,000 mt, up 141.3 percent than the same month last year. Imports of rolled plates totaled 55,000 mt in the month, 44.7 percent more.
In exports, there is only a record of roll plate with 8,000 mt, 76.5 percent less compared to the 34,000 mt in July 2022.
In the accumulated seven months, rolled steel consumption registered an annual increase of 39.3 percent to 1.48 million mt. Meanwhile, consumption of sheet steel plate increased 56.3 percent to 997,000 mt. The production of roll plate increased 47.3 percent to 1.30 million mt, of sheet plate there is no visible record.
The accumulated import of sheet plate as of July increased 131.8 percent to 697,000 mt. In contrast, roll plate imports decreased 11.2 percent to 314,000 mt. On the accumulated exports side, rolled plate decreased 24.1 percent to 129,000 mt.