André Bier Gerdau Johannpeter, co-Vice Chairman of the Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau, highlighted the fact that the country's steel production chain could disappear due to external and internal crises.

André Johannpeter stated that geopolitical conflicts, international tariffs, and significant steel imports into the country are expected to make 2025 the most worrying year for Brazil's steel sector.

Among all these factors, he highlighted imported steel, primarily from China. Currently, the share of imported steel in the domestic market is between 22% and 25%, while previously it was only 10%.

André Johannpeter also highlighted that the Brazilian steel industry currently operates with 35% idle capacity, with more than a third of the furnaces and equipment shut down or operating below capacity due to a lack of orders. According to Johannpeter, this situation puts the steel sector at a point close to unsustainability.