The Brazilian Steel Institute (IBS) reported Thursday that Brazil's crude steel production totaled 1.9 million mt in June, showing a 2.5 percent increase from the previous month and a 33.9 percent decrease compared to the same month of last year.
The report shows that the accumulated production of crude steel seen in the first half of 2009 reached 10.6 million mt, dropping 39.5 percent compared to the same period last year.
Brazil's flats production in June reached 1.7 million mt, up 3.1 percent compared to May and down 21.1 percent compared to June of last year. The accumulated production of flats from January to June totaled 8.2 million mt, which represents a 37 percent drop when compared to the same months of last year.
Concerning domestic sales, in June 1.3 million mt of product was sold, which represents a 0.8 percent growth compared to the previous month and a 34.2 percent decline compared to sales during June of last year. Domestic sales in the first six months of the year totaled 6.9 million mt, showing a 40 percent decrease from last year.
Export volumes were also up in June from May, to the tune of 45.5 percent, while exports from January to June were 30 percent less (in volume) than last year.
Concerning imports, June volumes totaled 172,000 mt and the accumulated volume from January to June reached 1.1 million mt, which is 3.2 percent above the level seen in the first six months of last year.
Brazil's domestic apparent consumption of steel in June reached 1.5 million mt while the accumulated production during the first half of the year totaled 8.0 million mt. These values dropped 31.8 percent and 36.4 percent respectively when compared to the same period of time last year.
The IBS sees June’s increase in sales and production as a sign that the marketplace is gradually improving.