Minas Gerais shows steel in pandemic recovery

An integral part of countless industrial productive chains in Brazil, the country’s major steel mills are seeing an increase in demand, largely boosted by clients in civil construction, vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure works, and agricultural machinery.

Over a year since the sudden setback caused by the coronavirus pandemic — which saw orders dry up, furnaces switch off, and production take a nosedive — mills have now returned to pre-pandemic levels.

In January, the sector saw its best result since October 2013 in production and sales, while apparent consumption hit heights last seen in March 2015, according to Instituto Aço Brasil.

Almost 6 million tons of raw steel were produced in January and February, 7.3 percent more than in the same months of the previous year. Domestic sales totaled 3.7 million tons, a 24-percent increase.

In April, 62-percent iron ore prices rose 4.3 percent, reaching USD 189.61 — the highest rate since February 2011....