Steel Brazil Institute said that Brazil's crude steel production totaled 2.7 million tonnes in September, up by 1.5% MoM and down by 9.9% YoY. In the January to September 2009 period, Brazil's crude steel production totaled 18.5 million tonnes, down by 31.3% YoY.

Laminated steel production totaled 1.9 million tonnes in September, up by 1.5% MoM and down by 8.5% YoY. In the first 9 months of 2009, laminated steel production totaled 14.1 million tonnes, down by 28.6% YoY.

According to the Steel Brazil Institute, the increase reflects the recovery of Brazil's domestic market from the economic turmoil. Compared with the same period in 2008, however, domestic sales were down 16.6%, indicating that even though the Brazilian economy is recuperating, it still has a long way to go to recover from last year's losses.

Steel sales in domestic market totaled 1.6 million tonnes in September, up by 11% MoM. In the first 9 months of 2009, domestic steel sales were down by 34.9% YoY to 11.4 million tonnes.

The exports of steel made products reached 1.1 million tonnes in September, up by 9.8% MoM. The exports generated USD 559 million in revenues, up by 27.9% MoM. From January to September 2009, exports of steel products totaled 6.4 million tonnes, down by 15.5% YoY. The income generated by the exports fell 45.3% YoY to USD 3.5 billion.

(Sourced from news.xinhuanet.com)