Latin America’s crude steel production in 2008 reached 67.2Mt, the same as the previous year, the Latin American Iron and Steel Institute (Ilafa) reported.

The largest variation was seen in Venezuela, where production fell 15.4% from 5.0Mt in 2007 to 4.2Mt in 2008, while Brazilian production rose 1.5% from 33.8Mt to 34.4Mt and Mexico increased from 17.6Mt to 17.8Mt.

Argentina boosted output in 2008 to 5.7Mt from 5.4Mt while Chile’s production dipped to 1.5Mt from 1.7Mt and Colombia declined to 1.1Mt from 1.2Mt. Peru improved output in 2008 to 1.1Mt from 900,000t.

Primary iron production in the region dropped 1.4% from 62.6Mt in 2007 to 61.7Mt in 2008, according to Ilafa.

Again, Venezuela registered a decline, from 7.8Mt in 2007 to 7.2Mt last year. Brazil’s output fell from 35.9Mt to 35.7Mt and Mexico improved slightly from 10.3Mt to 10.7Mt.

Argentina’s output rose from 4.4Mt in 2007 to 4.5Mt in 2008, Chile’s remained the same with 1.1Mt, Colombia’s also remained unchanged at 300,000t and Peru’s increased to 500,000t from 400,000t.

Hot-rolled production in Latin America slumped 1.6% from 55.4Mt in 2007 to 54.6Mt in 2008. – BNamericas