The recent Latin American Steel Conference (Alacero 57) was attended by the entityâs president, CEO of ArcelorMittal Aços Longos for Central and South America and a member of the Executive Committee of the ArcelorMittal Group, Jefferson De Paula, as well as of Alaceroâs general director, Rafael Rubio. Both De Paula, also a counselor of Brazil Steel Institute, and Rubio exposed the current situation and perspectives for the Latin-American steel industry, its relationship with the rest of the world, with China and the situation in Brazil.
During the conference, the president of Alacero highlighted that âthe global economic scenario shows signs of recovery, with a growth forecast of 3.4% in 2016. China is expected to keep on slowing down after recording a growth of 6.7% in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the fragile economic situation in Latin American will see a positive turn as international entities are expecting a growth of 1.6% in 2017. In Brazil, expectations for the next year are encouraging, backed up by a political will to overcome the crisisâ?
Brazil saw, in 2015, its steel sector shrink back to 2006 and 2007 levels, thus evidencing the dire effects left by the crisis. On the other hand, numbers for this year are encouraging with strong signs that the worst is past and that Brazil is now on a steady pace towards recovery of losses.
