by Sergio Milatias 
Editor in Chief of Revista do Parafusos

Despite of growth, a little shy on metal industrial sector, the Brazilian crude steel production was 22.2 million tons in the first months of 2019, which represents a 5.4% drop compared to the same period of the previous year. The production of rolled products in the same period was 15.4 million tons, about 2.5% in relation to the same accumulated of 2018. The production of semi-finished products for sales totalized 5.9 million tons from January to August. 2019, a 10.7% retraction on the same basis of comparison.

The domestic sales were 12.4 million tons from January to August 2019, which represents a 1.5% retraction when compared to the same period of the previous year. While the domestic apparent consumption of steel products was 13.9 million tons accumulated until August 2019. This result represents a decrease of 2.3% compared to the period of 2018.

The imports reached 1.7 million tons accumulated until August 2019, a decrease of 1.1% compared to the same period of the previous year. In value, imports reached US$ 1.7 billion and retreated 5.7% in the same period of comparison.
Exports reached 8.6 million tons, or US$ 5.1 billion, from January to August 2019. These results represent, respectively, an increase of 1.7% and a retraction of 4.8% compared to the same period of 2018.

Source: Press Office Brazil Steel Institute (19/09/2019) 
www.acobrasil.org.br