Apparent Steel Use Forecast

Source: ILAFA

Since the beginning of this year, steel consumption forecasts in Latin America have been continuously revised upwards, specially thanks to the buoyant dynamism of the Brazilian market and a better economic outlook in most of the regional countries.

Consumption is thus expected this year to grow by 25.3%, returning to pre-crisis levels, and reach over 60 million tons in 2011.

Apparent Steel Use Forecast

Source: ILAFA

Recently, ILAFA contributed to worldsteel's Short Range Outlook interim of June 2010, providing an update on the forecasts made in March of the current year.

During 2009, Latin American apparent steel use fell by 16% compared with the previous year, as a result of the crisis. For 2010, ILAFA expects a strong recovery of 20% and a demand growth of 7% the following year. However, this forecast was made before the euro zone crisis, so the figures could be revised downward.

Economy and Market Bulletin – May-June Edition

The May-June edition of the Economy and Market Bulletin has recently been published, featuring articles about the European Union crisis and an analysis of the impact of the new iron ore pricing system.

This edition includes comments on China's economic situation and warns the Latin American steel industry about the important volumes of imports of goods with a high steel content from that country to the region.

The Economy and Market Bulletin has a section that features a summary of tariff preferences and unfair trade practices that keeps the reader updated on these issues.

This publication may be purchased by writing to xbambach@ilafa.org.