|
|
Since the 80's the steel industry began to adopt more flexible forms, to compact production stages and attend the demand for differentiated products, with quality requirements. A change occurred: investment does not anymore aim a self-sufficient economy on basic suppliments, but market opportunities. Search for production scale and access to larger markets. New models of logistic distribution and services are created.
The steel sector in Brazil is composed basically by four big groups: Usiminas/Cosipa, with 9,5 million ton/year capacity, has a strategic alliance with Nippon Steel. Guerdau, most important long steel producer, controls Açominas and has steel plants in several countries. CSN produces 5 million tons and has its own mine-railroad-port device. Arcelor, formed after a fusion of european steel companies, controls Belgo Mineira, Acesita and CST. Brazil is the 8º world-wide steel producer and the 4º bigger exporter.
An internationalization process of the Brazilian companies is under way, lead by Gerdau. On the other hand, the participation of foreign groups _ particularly Arcelor _ in the country grows. CVRD has adopted as strategy promoting, in order to guarantee sells contracts of its ore, the implantation of new steel industries, as the projects announced by Baosteel, Posco and Thyssen.
World-wide steel companies make technical alliances to respond to the steel users demands, as the car manufacturers. Today China is the biggest buyer from the Brazilian steel producers. The country is, at the same time, the larger world-wide steel producer and importer.
.
|
