Brazilian crude steel production was 32.2 million tons in 2019, which represents a 9.0% drop compared to 2018. Rolled steel production in the same period was 22.2 million tons, down 6.3% compared to the previous year. Production of semi-finished products for sales totaled 8.8 million tons in 2019, a decrease of 10.9% compared to that recorded in 2018.

Domestic sales were 18.5 million tonnes in 2019, which represents a decrease of 2.2% when compared to that recorded in 2018.

The apparent national consumption of steel products was 20.6 million tons in 2019. This result represents a drop of 2.7% compared to the previous year.

Imports reached 2.4 million tons in 2019, a decrease of 1.9% compared to the previous year. In value, imports reached US $ 2.5 billion and decreased 5.9% in the same period of comparison.

Exports(2) reached 12.8 million tons, or US $ 7.3 billion, in 2019. These values represent, respectively, a decrease of 8.1% and 17.5% in comparison with the result of 2018.

In August 2018, there was a change in the methodology for calculating export data released by the MDIC, which brought inconsistencies in the figures for the second half of 2019. Thus, the variations in exports from January to December 2019, when compared with the same period of 2018, must be carefully analyzed.

Data for December 2019 

In December 2019, Brazilian crude steel production was 2.4 million tons, a 10.8% reduction compared to the same month of 2018. The production of rolled products was 1.4 million tons, 14 , 3% lower than that recorded in December 2018. The production of semi-finished products for sales was 873 thousand tons, 2.5% lower than in the same month of 2018 [1].

Domestic sales dropped 2.7% compared to December 2018 and reached 1.4 million tons. Apparent consumption of steel products was 1.5 million tons, 4.1% less than in the same period in 2018.

December 2019 imports were 133,000 tonnes and $ 148 million, down 16.9% in quantum and 11.4% in value compared to December 2018.

December exports (2) were 1.0 million tons, or US $ 502 million, which resulted in a decrease of 21.5% and 32.4%, respectively, when compared to the same month of 2018.

In August 2018, there was a change in the methodology for calculating export data released by the MDIC, which brought inconsistencies in the numbers for the second half of 2019. Thus, the variations in exports in December 2019, when compared to December 2018, should be carefully analyzed.

(1) Due to a loss that occurs during the steel production process, the sum of the production of rolled and semi-finished products for sales does not equal the total production of crude steel.

(2) SECEX / MDIC changed the data collection methodology of the Single Foreign Trade Portal and inconsistencies in export data may still be found. comexstat.mdic.gov.br/pt/informativo/25