BNamericas reported that Brazilian steelmaker Votorantim is delaying the opening of its 1 million tonnes per annum long steel facility in Rio de Janeiro state's Resende. Originally set for April 2009, the opening of the plant has not been rescheduled.

A Votorantim spokesperson said that "The delays were nothing serious. We just had lots of rain these last few months which hampered construction and forced us to postpone the opening of our new facility."

Votorantim already has a 650,000 tonnes per annum long steel mill in Barra Mansa.