Brazil's crude steel production in 2013 is expected to increase to 36.5 million tonnes, an increase of 5.8%. The apparent consumption of crude steel is expected to grow 4.2%, to 26.2 million tonnes.
Marco Polo de Mello Lopes), Executive Chairman of the Brazilian Iron and Steel Association, said that the above expectations are based on the GDP growth rate of 3.7%.
But Mello Lopes said, if the growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP) was less than 3.7%, the forecast data would be adjusted accordingly. Sales of domestic crude steel were expected to be 23.2 million tonnes, representing an increase of 7.6% over 2012. Exports of crude steel were expected to be 8.9 million tonnes, down 8.8%. Crude steel imports were expected to decline 15.4% to 3.2 million tonnes.