SÃO PAULO — Latin American and Caribbean countries’ apparent steel consumption inched up 1 percent to 5.13 million tonnes in January from 5.08 million tonnes in the same month last year, according to regional steel association Alacero.

The largest gains were recorded by Argentina (up 32 percent to 383,000 tonnes), Peru (up 10 percent to 236,000 tonnes) and Colombia (up 7 percent to 269,000 tonnes).

A version of this article was first published by AMM sister publication Steel First.