Steel production decreased in the American continent in the first half of 2016

According to the latest figures released by the World Steel Association, South American crude steel yields dropped significantly during June from the previous year. Total monthly output fell 13.7% to 3.302 million tonnes. Steel production in the North also declined during the month.

Argentina's total crude steel production in June was 372,000 tonnes, down 16.2% from June 2015. Brazil produced 2.541 million tonnes of steel, with production falling 8.5% from 2.777 million tonnes in June last year. The total steel production in the first half of 2016 compared to the corresponding six-month period in 2015 in Brazil, the largest producer in South America, fell by 13%, and in Venezuela by 78%.

Meanwhile, North American crude steel production declined marginally by 1.2% during the month of June on an annualized basis. The output amounted to 9.453 million tons in June this year.

Total crude steel production in Canada in June this year was 1.040 million tonnes, down 2.8% from June 2015. The United States produced 6.833 million tonnes of steel, down 0.1% from 6.843 million tonnes achieved in June 2015. Mexico's total crude steel production is down 0.9% from 1.539 million tonnes in June 2015 to 1.525 million tonnes in June this year.

Cumulative steel production in the first six months of 2016 was up 0.2% in the United States and 0.4% in Canada compared to a year earlier, and fell 5% in Mexico.