Mexico recorded the largest trade deficit of imports over exports throughout Latin American rolled steel, with 1.5 million tons in the first five months of 2014, said the Latin American Steel Association (Alacero).

The apparent consumption of such demanding industries such as construction, automotive and appliances grew by 12 percent in Mexico, being the country that contributed to the growth of 2 percent average in Latin America.

In its biannual report, the agency said that rolled steel imports exceed exports in all countries of Latin America, but the largest deficit was recorded in Mexico.

"Mexico is a country that consistently has the highest imbalance (commercial) with 1.5 million tons."

The finished steel or laminate includes all long products such as those used for concrete, bars, rods, profiles and rails; in addition to the flat steel sheet and laminated, coated, prepainted coils, stainless steel, tinplate, galvanized, chrome and seamless pipes.

Unlike these products, crude-steel its most basic presentation resulting from a continuous casting in a slab or billet-Latin America reported a production of 27.1 million tons from January to May, up 1 percent at 2013.

 Between January and May 2014, Latin America saw a slight increase in the steel market, increasing 1 percent crude steel production and rolling, and 2 percent apparent consumption of rolled over the same period of 2013," said the Alacero report.

"Mexico was one of the countries that contributed to the growth of 2 rolled steel consumption, the consumption increased 12 percent."