Sao Paulo (Platts)--25Feb2013/527 pm EST/2227 GMT

Import sales of steel and related products in Chile, including raw materials, ferroalloys, semi-finished steel and rolled products, in 2012 increased 12.5% on the year to a total $2.3 billion CIF, according to the country's central bank Monday.

The jump in imports was driven mainly by purchases of hot-dip galvanized, which in 2012 totaled 397,007 mt (average price of $998/mt CIF in the fourth quarter), 42% more than in the same quarter the previous year and enough to top the list of Chilean main imported products, the central bank said in a trade report.

Hot rolled coil, which was the leader in 2011, decreased in orders last year from 319,590 mt to 290,159 mt (average price of $682/mt CIF in Q4).

Tubes imports also increased markedly, rising from 153,745 mt in 2011 to 224,858 mt (average price of $1,394 CIF in Q4). Alloyed bar imports totaled 159,875 mt (average $942/mt CIF in Q4), 16% more than in 2011, while purchases of rebar remained steady at 115,918 mt (average price of $754/mt CIF in Q4).

Chilean steel exports, meanwhile, grew 25% in 2012 for a total value of $739.2 million FOB.

The country's main exported product was ferrous scrap, which spiked 131% in shipments year on year, totaling 267,929 mt (average $428/mt FOB in Q4). Rebar exports, in turn, dropped 38%, from 53,620 mt in 2011 to 32,827 mt (average $962/mt FOB in Q4) in 2012. The trade of other products was not representative.

--Henrique Ribeiro, henrique_ribeiro@platts.com --Edited by Richard Rubin, richard_rubin@platts.com