Brazil steel use down 4% in December as flats decline offsets longs growth

Brazil's apparent steel use fell in both December 2019 and over the full year, compared with the corresponding figures for 2018, because of weaker domestic sales and imports, local steel association Instituto A??o Brasil said on Thursday January 23.

Apparent consumption was 1.52 million tonnes in December, a 4.1% year-on-year decrease from 1.58 million tonnes, according to the association.
Flat-rolled steel use was 916,000 tonnes, down by 10.1% from 1.02 million tonnes a year before, while long steel demand totaled 599,000 tonnes, up by 6.8% from 561,000 tonnes.
Both sectors saw declining demand during the year, however, amid a slow economic recovery in the country.
According to A??o Brasil's data, full-year apparent use reached 20.65 million tonnes, down by 2.7% from 21.21 million tonnes in 2018.

Consumption of flat-rolled material...

China's gold holdings to central bank reserves still low

China has broad effect on gold market

Gold stocks mixed after previous week's huge gains

Large TSXV gold multiple driven up by high Artemis weighting

Monetary-driven precious metals outperform major base metals