Americas

NAFTA : Crude Steel Production ; Trade in Steel

South & Central America : Crude Steel Production ; Trade in Steel

NAFTA

ISSB holds export and import data covering steel and steelmaking raw materials to 6 digit HS tariff level for the USA, Canada and Mexico giving us 100% trade coverage for the NAFTA region.

As crude steel production within NAFTA is insufficient to meet demand for steel in the region, NAFTA has long been a large net importer of steel. Net imports peaked in 2006 at 39 million tonnes but fell substantially each year to be just 8 million tonnes in 2009. 2010 saw a pick up in net importation to 12 million tonnes, a trend which continued through 2011 and into 2012 when net imports were 25 million tonnes, still 36% below the 2006 peak.

Crude Steel Production

Although 2001 saw a significant drop in NAFTA's crude steel production, output to 2007 remained steady until the latter half of 2008 when production began to fall sharply. 2009 saw production in NAFTA of 82 million tonnes, 38% down on 2007. Output recovered to 110 million tonnes in 2010, to 117 million tonnes in 2011 and to 121 million tonnes in 2012 leaving it just 8% below the 2007 level.

Below we summarise World Steel Association data for crude steel production within NAFTA.

NAFTA : Trade in Steel by Country

ISSB can assess the trade of NAFTA countries in steel and steelmaking raw materials using any combination of products and any combination of trading partner countries.

As an illustration of aggregate trade across all steel mill products (semis, long & flat products, tubes) and with all countries we show below US, Canadian and Mexican total trade annually across 2003-2012 with US trade also shown monthly from 2008 to the most recently available month in 2013.

NAFTA : External Trade

ISSB can also assess NAFTA's trading relationships with the rest of the world and display those relationships grouped by products, by regions or by individual countries. As an example we show here the relative flows of steel between NAFTA and other world regions, while below are details of the most significant origins of NAFTA's steel imports.

NAFTA – Internal Trade

ISSB can also assess trade within NAFTA and here as illustrations we show a breakdown of NAFTA internal trade by both major product groups and by the flows between the three NAFTA partners.

If you want to know more about the movements of steel and steel making raw materials involving the USA, Canada and Mexico please contact phil.hunt@issb.co.uk or use our on-line Trade Enquiry System.

South and Central America

ISSB holds export and import data covering steel and steelmaking raw materials to 6 digit HS tariff level for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela whom collectively produce 97% of the crude steel produced within the region. Additionally with export coverage of 97% of steel production globally ISSB is ideally placed to assess the market for steel in those South American countries for which national trade data is not available.

Crude Steel Production

Not unsurprisingly given its size and iron ore resources Brazil dominates the steel map of the region. However given its BRIC status it is perhaps surprising that crude steel production in Brazil only increased by 21% between 2000 and 2008 before 2009 saw output back below the level of 2000. 2010 saw Brazilian output increase by 24% to levels similar to those seen in 2007 and 2008 while 2010 saw production across the region as a whole up by a more modest 16%. 2011 saw Brazil increase production by 7%, to be 4% ahead of the 2007 level, while production across the region rose by 10% in 2011.  Production fell back again in 2012, however, to be on a par with levels seen in 2008.

Below we summarise World Steel Association data for crude steel production within South and Central America.

Trade in Steel

While ISSB holds national trade data from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Panama, Uruguay and Venezuela our global level of trade coverage enables us to assess the trade of other countries within the region for which national trade data is not readily available. As an illustration of this capability we show below the top ten origins and destinations within the region for cross border movements of steel.

If you want to know more about the movements of steel and steel making raw materials involving the countries in the Central and South American region please contact phil.hunt@issb.co.uk or use our on-line Trade Enquiry System.