Advance information of January 2015 indicates that 2014´s market weaknesses persist at the beginning of the new year.
 
Production
In 2014, Latin America and the Caribbean produced 65.6 million tons of crude steel, in line with 2013. Brazil represented 52% of the regional output (33.9 million tons), even when it described a slight drop of 1% y-o-y.
 
In 2014, the strongest crude steel production percentage growths were registered in Ecuador (16%), Peru (8%), Argentina (6%) and Mexico (4%). On the other hand, Venezuela and Chile described declines of 31% and 15%, respectively.
 
Regional production of finished steel reached 56 million tons in 2014, 2% less than 2013. Brazil was the main producer (24.8 million tons), representing 44% of the regional output. It was followed by Mexico with 17.3 million tons and 31% share of production. The countries that increased their finished steel production the most were: Dominican Republic (16%), Peru (12%), Colombia (9%), Mexico (6%) and Ecuador (6%). Meanwhile, Venezuela and Chile decreased by 30% and 15%, respectively.
 
Finished steel consumption
Apparent finished steel use reached 69.5 million tons in 2014, an increase of 1% vs 2013.
 
The most significant steel use expansions were observed in Mexico (a market that grew 12% vs 2013 to reach 22.5 million tons), Colombia (21% to reach 4.2 million tons), Peru (24% to reach 3.4 tons) and the Dominican Republic (36% to reach 516.000 tons). On the other hand, Venezuela displayed an important 36% drop, because of its recessive economy and an inflation that reached 60% in 2014 -according to the Venezuelan Central Bank. Finished steel consumption in Ecuador and Chile contracted by 13% and 5%, respectively.
 
In Brazil, finished steel consumption decreased 7% in 2014, equivalent to 1.8 million tons below 2013 consumption. This was a consequence of the economic downturn of the country (Brazil´s economy contracted 0.12% in 2009, the worst figures since 2009, according to the Central Bank) and of problems arising from the high tax burden, increasing inflation and energetic shortages.
 
Trade balance
Latin America imported 22.9 million tons of finished steel in 2014, 8.2% above 2013 level (21.2 million tons), discouraging the local industry, increasing trade frictions and jeopardizing jobs. Currently, imports account for 33% of the regional consumption.
 
Latin American exports of finished steel reached 8.5 million tons, a slight increase of 0.7% versus 2013. In 2014, the regional trade deficit reached 14.4 million tons. This unbalance is 13% deeper than in 2013 (12.8 million tons).
 
In 2014, several Latin American and Caribbean countries displayed finished steel trade deficit. The most significant was registered in Mexico (5.1 million tons); followed by Colombia (2.4 million tons), Peru (1.9 million tons) and Chile (1.5 million tons). Graph 02 describes the evolution of trade flows and balances.
 
Production January 2015
Advance information of January 2015 indicates that crude steel production reached 5.5 million tons, 2% above January 2014. Finished steel output was 4 million tons, 11% less y-o-y. These figures signal that market weaknesses of 2014 continue into the beginning of the new year.
 

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Alacero –the Latin American Steel Association– is the organization that brings together the Steel Value Chain of Latin America to promote the values of regional integration, technological innovation, corporate responsibility, excellence in human resources, safe working environments, and social and environmental sustainability. Founded in 1959, Alacero is formed by 50 companies in 25 countries, whose production –of about 70 million annual tons– represents 95% of the steel manufactured in the region. Alacero is a Special Consulting Organization to the United Nations and is recognized as International Non-Government Organization by the Republic of Chile, host country of Alacero´s headquarters.