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.
Association Chairman Lopez said that with the recovery of “V” in the steel industry, the equipment utilization rate of steel production enterprises has continued to increase, reaching 70.1% at the end of last year, the highest average level in the past five years.