According to the Brazil Steel Institute, in July this year, Brazilian crude steel production totaled 2.85 million tonnes, remaining almost unchanged as compared to June and up by 14.3% from July 2009.

The institute said that Brazil''s rolled steel product output totaled 2.45 million tonne in July, rising by 4.76% MoM and up 28.6% YoY. Of this total, the country''s flat steel output stood at 1.46 million tonne up 3% over June and up 26.1% YoY while its long steel output amounted to 988,100 metric tonnes, surging by 7.3% MoM and up by 32.4% compared to July 2009.

On the other hand, in the first seven months of this year, Brazil''s crude steel output rose 47.3% reaching 19.23 million tonnes, while its rolled steel output increased by 53.7% to 15.55 million tonnes, including 9.33 million tonnes of flat products up by 62.4% and 6.22 million tonnes of long products up by 42.2% all compared to the corresponding period of 2009.

Domestic sales totaled 1.87 million tonnes in July, up by 31.3% from the same month last year, while sales in the first seven months totaled 12.69 million tonnes, increasing by 52.3% compared to the same period last year.

Exports of steel products in July amounted to 566,500 tonnes down 27.4% YoY worth USD 414.6 million. Exports in the January to July period of this year totaled 4.82 million tonne, worth USD 2.94 billion, with increases of 15.5% in volume and 22.5% in value compared to the corresponding period of 2009.

Meanwhile, the country''s steel import volume in July totaled 532,800 tonnes with the first seven months'' total reaching 3.26 million tonnes of steel products representing a 152.2% increase from the same period last year.

(Source: Steel Guru)