Japan-based steelmaker Mitsui & Co has announced that its new steel service center in Brazil, MAG Aliança Automóveis do Brasil SSC S.A.(MAG), has started commercial operations. MAG was jointly established by Mitsui USA and ArcelorMittal Gonvarri Brasil (AMG) and is located within Nissan Brazil's Supplier Park in Resende, Rio de Janeiro, where Nissan has been producing vehicles since February this year. MAG has an annual processing capacity of 160,000 mt.
Brazil is one of the major global automotive manufacturing countries with a 60 percent share of the South American market. Domestic vehicle sales in Brazil are expected to reach 5 million in 2017, making it the world's third largest market. The Brazilian government actively promotes the development of the domestic automotive industry, and, as a result, the nation's demand for automotive steel processing is expected to grow in the mid- to long-term.