South America   produced 3.56 million mt of crude steel in July, close to the 3.55 million mt   produced a year ago and 4.4% higher than the 3.41 million mt produced in   June, according to World Steel Association data released Thursday. 
  Brazilian production rose 1% year on year to 2.83 million mt from 2.80   million mt. Brazils July output was up 7.2% from Junes 2.64 million mt. 
  Argentina, the regions second-largest producer by volume, produced 355,000   mt in July, similar to the same month in 2016 and down 4.6% from 372,000 mt   in June. 
  Perus output was 115,000 mt in July, up 8.5% from the 106,000 mt produced in   the year-ago month and up 10.6% from Junes 104,000 mt. 
  Chiles steel output increased 2.2% to 95,000 mt in July from 93,000 mt in   the same month a year ago, and was down 2% from 97,000 mt in June. 
  Colombias July output was 85,000 mt, down 1.2% from 86,000 mt in the   year-ago period and down 22% from 109,000 mt in June. 
  Ecuador produced 50,000 mt in July, up 4.2% from 48,000 mt in the year-ago   month and up 8.7% from 46,000 mt in June. 
  Venezuela produced 30,000 mt of crude steel in July, a 37.5% decrease from   48,000 mt a year ago, but close to Junes 31,000 mt, Worldsteel estimated. 
  Uruguay produced 5,000 mt, flat to 5,000 mt a year ago and up from Junes   4,000 mt. 
  Paraguays July output was 33.3% lower year on year at 2,000 mt compared with   3,000 mt a year earlier, and similar to the prior month. 
  Total South American output for the first seven months of 2017 was 24.79   million mt, a 9% year-on-year increase from 22.74 million mt.  |