Brazilian crude steel production in July up

Brazil's raw steel production up 11.5 percent in July.
Brazil's raw steel output reached a total of 3.2 million tons in July, up 11.5 percent over the same month of 2007, according to a study released on Monday by the Brazilian Institute of Siderurgy (IBS). The study shows the output of laminated steel reached 2.2 million tons in July, roughly the same volume as in July 2007. The output of long laminated steel reached 974,200 tons, up 11.9 percent over the same month of 2007. The sales of laminated steel to the domestic market reached a record high of two million tons in July. Flat laminated steel sales grew 7.8 percent and long laminated steel sales went up 32.3percent year-on-year. The sales of plate steel to the international market had a 29.4percent increase in July, compared with the same month of 2007. The sales growth is due mainly to increases in the production of automobiles, machinery and construction materials, and possibly the 158.9 percent growth of the plate steel output, up to 466,500 tons in July. However, the sales of laminated steel to the international decreased due to higher demand of domestic market, according to the study.