According to data from the Brazilian Iron and Steel Association (IABr), in January 2021, Brazilian crude steel production increased by 10.8% year-on-year to 3 million tons.
In January, domestic sales in Brazil were 1.9 million tons, an increase of 24.9% year-on-year; apparent consumption was 2.2 million tons, an increase of 25% year-on-year. The export volume was 531,000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 52%; the import volume was 324,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 42.3%.
Data shows that Brazil’s crude steel output in 2020 was 30.97 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 4.9%. In 2020, domestic sales in Brazil reached 19.24 million tons, an increase of 2.4% over the same period. Apparent consumption was 21.22 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 1.2%. Although affected by the epidemic, steel consumption did not fall as expected. The export volume was 10.74 million tons, down 16.1% year-on-year; the import volume was 2 million tons, down 14.3% year-on-year
The Brazilian Iron and Steel Association predicts that Brazilian crude steel production is expected to increase by 6.7% in 2021 to 33.04 million tons. Apparent consumption will increase by 5.8% to 22.44 million tons. Domestic sales may increase by 5.3%, reaching 20.27 million tons. It is estimated that the export volume will reach 11.71 million tons, an increase of 9%; the import volume will increase by 9.8% to 2.22 million tons.
Lopez, chairman of the association, said that with the recovery of the “V” in the steel industry, the utilization rate of equipment in steel production enterprises has continued to increase. At the end of last year, it was 70.1%, the highest average level in the past five years.