Sao Paulo, Brazil (Platts)--19Feb2013/321 pm EST/2021 GMT

Apparent steel use in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 64.6 million mt during 2012, 3% more than in 2011, according to a report Tuesday by the Latin American Steel Association, Alacero. Meanwhile, imports rose 33% to 11.6 million mt.

According to the group, the growth in the region's consumption was mainly driven by Chile, up 22%, and Peru, 18%. No volumes were disclosed.

In 2012, all Latin American and Caribbean countries except Argentina and the Dominican Republic showed a finished steel trade deficit. Mexico had the biggest deficit of 4.1 million mt, followed by Colombia (1.8 million mt), Chile (1.5 million mt) and Peru (1.4 million mt).

Production of finished steel in the region was up 2% year on year to 56.4 million mt, with December's 4.7 million mt representing a decline of 4% from the same month a year earlier.

Brazil represented 47% of total Latin America and Caribbean production in 2012 at 26.2 million mt. Mexico was the second largest producer at 15.9 million mt, or 28%.

--Adriana Carvalho, adriana_carvalho@platts.com --Edited by Jason Lindquist, jason_lindquist@platts.com