Ilafa: Steel output up 1.9% in Apr

The Latin American Iron and Steel Institute ( Ilafa) reported raw steel production in Latin America for the first four months of 2005 was 21.1Mt, up 1.9% from 20.5Mt in same-period in 2004. Primary iron ore production in the first four months of 2005 grew 5.1% to 20.6Mt from 19.5Mt in the same period the previous year. Meanwhile, Latin American hot-rolled production did not experience dramatic fluctuations, totaling 15.7Mt for the first four months of 2005.