OREANDA-NEWS. February 27, 2012. The Brazilian crude steel output reached 2.8 million tonnes in January, up 0.6% from the equivalent period in 2011. As far as rolled steel products are concerned, the output totaled 2 million tonnes, down 0.6% from last year’s same month. The statistics were disclosed today (February 17) by IABr (the Brazilian Steel Institute).

The domestic sales jumped 5.7% to 1.7 million tonnes when compared to January 2011. Steel export shipments amounted to 849,000 tonnes, whereas imports reached 339,000 tonnes, or 1.5% less than 2011 same period. The apparent consumption in January 2012 was 2 million tonnes or 4.2% higher than that of January 2011.