South America produced 3.56 million mt of crude steel in July, close to the 3.55 million mt produced a year ago and 4.4% higher than the 3.41 million mt produced in June, according to World Steel Association data released Thursday.
Brazilian production rose 1% year on year to 2.83 million mt from 2.80 million mt. Brazil's July output was up 7.2% from June's 2.64 million mt.
Argentina, the region's second-largest producer by volume, produced 355,000 mt in July, similar to the same month in 2016 and down 4.6% from 372,000 mt in June.
Peru's output was 115,000 mt in July, up 8.5% from the 106,000 mt produced in the year-ago month and up 10.6% from June's 104,000 mt.
Chile's steel output increased 2.2% to 95,000 mt in July from 93,000 mt in the same month a year ago, and was down 2% from 97,000 mt in June.
Colombia's July output was 85,000 mt, down 1.2% from 86,000 mt in the year-ago period and down 22% from 109,000 mt in June.
Ecuador produced 50,000 mt in July, up 4.2% from 48,000 mt in the year-ago month and up 8.7% from 46,000 mt in June.
Venezuela produced 30,000 mt of crude steel in July, a 37.5% decrease from 48,000 mt a year ago, but close to June's 31,000 mt, Worldsteel estimated.
Uruguay produced 5,000 mt, flat to 5,000 mt a year ago and up from June's 4,000 mt.
Paraguay's July output was 33.3% lower year on year at 2,000 mt compared with 3,000 mt a year earlier, and similar to the prior month.
Total South American output for the first seven months of 2017 was 24.79 million mt, a 9% year-on-year increase from 22.74 million mt.
