UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

Commission file number 1-14878

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

The total number of issued shares of each class of stock of GERDAU S.A. as of December 31, 2020 was:

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

☒ Yes ☐ No

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

☐ Yes ☒ No

Note — Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

☒ Yes ☐ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

†The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

☐ Item 17 ☐ Item 18

 If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

☐ Yes ☒ No

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Unless otherwise indicated, all references herein to:

The Company has prepared the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). The following investments are accounted following the equity method: Bradley Steel Processor and MRM Guide Rail, all in North America, of which Gerdau Ameristeel holds 50% of the total capital, the investment in the holding company Gerdau Metaldom Corp., in which the Company holds a 50% stake, in the Dominican Republic, the investment in Gerdau Corsa S.A.P.I. de C.V., in Mexico, in which the Company holds a 70% stake and the investment in Dona Francisca Energética S.A, in Brazil, in which the Company holds a 51.82% stake, the investment in Diaco S.A., in Colombia, in which the Company holds a 49.87% stake, the investment in Gerdau Summit Aços Fundidos e Forjados S.A., in Brazil, in which the Company holds a 58.73% stake and the investment in Juntos Somos Mais Fidelização S.A., in Brazil, in which the Company holds a 27.50% stake.

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this Annual Report is stated as of December 31, 2020. 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These statements relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies.

Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, these statements are subject to several risks and uncertainties and are made considering information currently available to us.

It is possible that our future performance may differ materially from our current assessments due to several factors, including the following:

Our forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. As for the forward-looking statements that relate to future financial results and other projections, actual results will be different due to the inherent uncertainty of estimates, forecasts and projections. Because of these uncertainties, potential investors should not rely on these forward-looking statements.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 

PART I

Not applicable, as the Company is filing this Form 20-F as an annual report.

Not applicable, as the Company is filing this Form 20-F as an annual report.

A.            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected financial information for the Company included in the following tables should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB, appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report, and section “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”. The consolidated financial data of the Company as of and for each of the years ended on December 31, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 are derived from the financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and presented in Brazilian Reais.

(1) The information on the numbers of shares presented above corresponds to the weighted average quantity during each year. 

(2) The information on the numbers of shares presented above corresponds to the shares at the end of each year.

(1)  Total current assets less total current liabilities. 

(2)  Total assets less total current liabilities and less total non-current liabilities.

Dividends

The Company’s total authorized capital stock is composed of common and preferred shares. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had 557,898,901 common shares and 45,709,870 non-voting preferred shares outstanding (excluding treasury stock).

The following table details dividends and interest on equity paid to holders of common and preferred stock since 2018. The figures are expressed in Brazilian reais and U.S. dollars. The exchange rate used for conversion to U.S. dollars was based on the date of the resolution approving the dividend.

Dividends per share information has been computed by dividing dividends and interest on equity by the number of shares outstanding, which excludes treasury stock. The table below presents the quarterly dividends paid per share, except where stated otherwise:

(1) Payment of interest on equity.

Brazilian Law 9,249 of December 1995 provides that a company may, at its sole discretion, pay interest on equity in addition to or instead of dividends (See Item 8 — “Financial Information - Interest on Equity”). A Brazilian corporation is entitled to pay its shareholders interest on equity up to the limit based on the application of the TJLP rate (Long-Term Interest Rate) to its shareholders’ equity or 50% of the net income in the fiscal year, whichever is higher. This payment is considered part of the mandatory dividend required by Brazilian Corporation Law for each fiscal year. The payment of interest on equity described herein is subject to a 15% withholding tax. See Item 10. “Additional Information — Taxation”.

Not required, as the Company is filing this Form 20-F as an annual report.

Not required, as the Company is filing this Form 20-F as an annual report.

We are subject to various risks and uncertainties resulting from changing competitive, economic, political and social conditions that could harm our business, results of operations or financial condition. The risks described below could adversely affect our business, consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. These risks are not the only ones we face. Other risks that we do not presently know about or that we presently believe are not material could also adversely affect us.

Risks Relating to our Business and the Steel Industry

Demand for steel is cyclical and a reduction in prevailing world prices for steel could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.

The steel industry is highly cyclical. Consequently, the Company is exposed to substantial swings in the demand for steel products, which in turn causes volatility in the prices of most of its products and eventually could cause write-downs of its inventories. In addition, the demand for steel products, and hence the financial condition and results of operations of companies in the steel industry, including the Company itself, are generally affected by macroeconomic changes in the world economy and in the domestic economies of steel-producing countries, including general trends in the steel, construction and automotive industries. Slow growth in steel consumption was not accompanied by a corresponding slowdown in capacity expansion over the last few years, resulting in an even greater excess of global steel capacity. Since then, the price has experienced a high volatility. A material decrease in demand for steel or exports by countries not able to consume their production could have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Global crises and subsequent economic slowdowns may adversely affect global steel demand. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Historically, the steel industry has been highly cyclical and deeply impacted by economic conditions in general, such as world production capacity and fluctuations in steel imports/exports and the respective import duties. After a steady period of growth between 2004 and 2008, the marked drop in demand resulting from the global economic crisis of 2008-2009 once again demonstrated the vulnerability of the steel market to volatility of international steel prices and raw materials. That crisis was caused by the dramatic increase of high risk real of estate financing defaults and foreclosures in the United States, with serious consequences for bank and financial markets throughout the world. Developed markets, such as North America and Europe, experienced a strong recession due to the collapse of real estate financings and the shortage of global credit. As a result, the demand for steel products suffered a decline in 2009, but since 2010 has been experiencing a gradual recovery, principally in the developing economies. The steel sector is experiencing challenges mainly due to excess global steel capacity, the Chinese economic slowdown, and the entry of imported steel into countries with more open economies. 

The economic downturn and turbulence in the global economy can negatively impact the consuming markets, affecting the business environment with respect to the following:

If the Company is not able to remain competitive in these shifting markets, our profitability, margins and income may be negatively affected. A decline in this trend could result in a decrease in the Company’s shipments and revenues. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Our results and financial condition are affected by global and local market conditions that we do not control and cannot predict

We are subject to the risks arising from adverse changes in domestic and global economic and political conditions. Our industry is cyclical by nature and fluctuates with economic cycles, including the current global economic instability. Recessions and significant disruptions in the global financial markets may affect the Company. Our operations experienced significant disruptions in 2008 and the United States, Europe and other economies went into recession. New challenges including the uncertain effects of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (BREXIT) and increasing political uncertainty and instability in a number of countries. In 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic, as explained below, resulted in the temporary closing of several industries, including the steel industry. Measures were taken to contain the virus spread among employees, in accordance with regulation promulgated by local authorities. The effects extended to operations and impacted the Company’s results, mainly in April, May and June. There continues to be considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies that have been adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s leading economies, including China. These policies may have a negative impact on the global and local economy, and consequently our business, financial condition and results of operations. We cannot predict if the actions taken in the United States, Europe, China and elsewhere in the world to address the adverse effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic will be successful in reducing the duration and impact of the economic instability and political uncertainty. More recently, the risk of trade protection measures in favor of local producers of competing products and the disruption in existing trade agreements or increased trade friction between countries (e.g., the U.S. and China) could have a negative effect on our business and results of operations by restricting the free flow of goods and services across borders and exacerbating global economic conditions. Global economic weakness may prompt banks to limit or deny lending to us or to our customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, on our operations and on our ability to carry out our announced capital investment programs and may prompt our customers to slow down or reduce the purchase of our products. We may experience longer sales cycles, difficulty in collecting sales proceeds and lower prices for our products. We cannot provide any assurance that any of these events will not have a material adverse effect on market conditions, the prices of our securities, our ability to obtain financing and our results of operations and financial condition.

Gerdau faces significant competition in relation to their steel products, including with regard to prices of other domestic and foreign producers, which may adversely affect its profitability and market share.

The global steel industry is highly competitive with respect to price, quality of products and customer service, as well as in relation to technological advances that allow the reduction of production costs. Brazilian exports of steel products are influenced by several factors, including protectionist policies of other countries, foreign exchange policy of the Brazilian government and growth rate of the world economy. Moreover, continuous advances in material sciences and the resulting technologies facilitate the improvement of products such as plastic, aluminum, ceramics and glass, allowing them to replace steel.

Due to the high initial investment costs, the operation of a steel plant on a continuous basis may encourage mill operators to maintain high production levels, even in periods of low demand, which would increase the pressure on industry profit margins. A competitive pressure that forces the fall in steel prices can also affect the profitability of Gerdau.

The steel industry has historically suffered from excess production capacity, which has recently worsened due to a substantial increase in production capacity in emerging countries, particularly China and India and other emerging markets. China is currently the largest global steel producer. In addition, China and certain steel exporting countries have favorable conditions (excess steel capacity, devalued currency or high market prices for steel products in markets outside these countries) which may significantly impact the price of steel in other markets. If Gerdau is unable to remain competitive with China and other steel-producing countries, its financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected in the future. 

An increase in China’s steelmaking capacity or a slowdown in China’s steel consumption could have a material adverse effect on domestic and global steel pricing and could result in increased steel imports into the markets in which the Company operates.

One significant factor in the global steel market has been China’s high steel production capacity, which has been exceeding its domestic consumption needs. This has made China a net exporter of steel products, increasing its importance in different countries of the transoceanic market and consequently pushing down international steel prices. Moreover, China’s lower growth rate has resulted in a slower pace of steel consumption in the country, consequently reducing demand for imported raw materials and putting pressure on global commodity prices. Any intensification of these factors could adversely affect the Company’s exports, results of operations and financial condition.

Higher steel scrap prices or a reduction in supply could adversely affect production costs and operating margins.

The main metal input for the Company’s mini mills is steel scrap. Although international steel scrap prices are determined essentially by scrap prices in the U.S. local market, because the United States is the main scrap exporter, scrap prices in the Brazilian market are set by domestic suppliers and demand. The price of steel scrap in Brazil varies from region to region and reflects demand and transportation costs. Should scrap prices increase significantly without a corresponding increase in finished steel selling prices, the Company’s profits and margins could be adversely affected. An increase in steel scrap prices or a shortage in the supply of scrap to its units would affect production costs and potentially reduce operating margins and revenues. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Increases in iron ore and coal prices, or reductions in market supply, could adversely affect the Company’s operations.

When the prices of raw materials, particularly iron ore and coking coal, increase, and the Company needs to produce steel in its integrated facilities, the production costs in its integrated facilities also increase. The Company uses iron ore to produce hot pig iron at its Ouro Branco, Barão de Cocais and Divinópolis mills located in the state of Minas Gerais.

The Ouro Branco mill is the Company’s largest mill in Brazil, and its main metal input for the production of steel is iron ore. This unit represented 56% of the total crude steel output (in volume) of the Brazil Business Segment. A shortage of iron ore in the domestic market may adversely affect the steel producing capacity of the Brazilian units, and an increase in iron ore prices could reduce profit margins.

The Company has iron ore mines in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. To mitigate its exposure to the volatility in iron ore prices, the Company invested in expanding the production capacity of these mines.

All of the Company’s coking coal requirements for its Brazilian units are imported due to the low quality of Brazilian coal. Coking coal is the main energy input at the Ouro Branco mill and is used at the coking facility. Although this mill is not dependent on coke supplies, a contraction in the supply of coking coal could adversely affect the integrated operations at this site. The coking coal used in this mill is imported from Canada, the United States, Australia, Mozambique, Peru, Russia and Colombia. Although the market for the supply of coking coal is relatively balanced at the moment, and we have entered into long-term contracts with negotiable prices periodically to minimize the risks of shortages, a shortage of coking coal in the international market would adversely affect the steel producing capacity of the Ouro Branco mill. In addition, an increase in prices could reduce profit margins. Another related risk is the currency depreciation to which the Ouro Branco Mill is exposed, since all coking coal consumed by the operation is imported.

As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Risks Relating to our Operations

The Company’s projects are subject to risks that may result in increased costs or delay or prevent their successful implementation.

The Company invested to further increase productivity of its operations. These projects are subject to several risks that may adversely affect the Company’s growth prospects and profitability, including the following:

Any one or a combination of the factors described above may materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Unexpected equipment failures may lead to production curtailments or shutdowns.

Unexpected interruptions in the production capabilities at Gerdau’s principal sites and installations would increase production costs, reducing shipments and earnings for the affected period. These interruptions result from: (i) unpredictable/periodic equipment failures, which are essential to the development of the production processes of Gerdau, such as steelmaking equipment, such as its electric arc furnaces, continuous casters, gas-fired reheat furnaces, rolling mills and electrical equipment, including high-output transformers; and/or (ii) unanticipated events such as fires, explosions or violent weather conditions. As a result, Gerdau has experienced and may in the future experience material plant shutdowns or periods of reduced production. Unexpected interruptions in production capabilities would adversely affect Gerdau’s productivity and results of operations. Moreover, any interruption in production capability may require Gerdau to make additions to fixed assets to remedy the problem, which would reduce the amount of cash available for operations. Gerdau’s insurance may not cover the losses. In addition, long-term business disruption could harm the Company’s reputation and result in a loss of customers, which could adversely affect the business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Failure to obtain the necessary permits and licenses could adversely affect our operations.

We depend on the issuance of permits and licenses from governmental agencies in order to undertake certain of our activities. In order to obtain licenses activities that are expected to have a significant environmental impact, certain investments in conservation are required to offset any such impact. The operational licenses require, among other things, that we periodically report our compliance with emissions standards set by environmental agencies. Failure to obtain, renew or comply with our operating licenses may cause delays in our deployment of new activities, increased costs, monetary fines or even suspension of the affected activity, which may materially adversely affect us.

Climate change may negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

A significant number of scientists, environmentalists, international organizations, regulators and other commentators sustain that global climate change has contributed, and will continue to contribute, to the increasing unpredictability, frequency and severity of natural disasters (including, but not limited to, hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes, freezes, other storms and fires) in certain parts of the world. As a result, a number of legal and regulatory measures as well as social initiatives have been introduced in numerous countries in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions and combat global climate change. Such reductions in greenhouse gas emissions could result in increased energy, transportation and raw material costs and may require us to make additional investments in facilities and equipment. Although we cannot predict the impact of changing global climate conditions, if any, or if legal, regulatory and social responses to concerns about global climate change, any such occurrences may negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Laws and regulations seeking to reduce greenhouse gases can be enacted in the future, which could have a significant adverse impact on the operating results, cash flows, and the financial condition of the Company. 

One of the possible effects of the increasing requirements related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is the increase in costs, mainly due to the demand to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the implementation of new technologies in the production chain.

The Company believes that the operations in the countries where it operates may be affected in the future by federal, state and municipal initiatives related to climate change, intended to deal with the issue of greenhouse gases (GHG). In this sense, one of the possible effects of this growing set of legal requirements could be an increase in the cost of energy. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and operating results may be adversely affected. In addition, the implementation of Carbon Pricing in Brazil, expected for 2030, is being studied.

In the U.S., future federal and/or state carbon regulation potentially presents a significantly greater impact to our operations. To date, the U.S. Congress has not legislated carbon constraints. In the absence of comprehensive federal carbon legislation, numerous state, regional and federal regulatory initiatives are under development or are becoming effective, thereby creating a disjointed approach to GHG control and potential carbon pricing impacts. 

The Company’s operations are energy-intensive, and energy shortages or higher energy prices could have an adverse effect.

Crude steel production is an energy-intensive process, especially in melt shops with electric arc furnaces. Electricity represents an important production component at these units, as also does natural gas, although to a lesser extent. Electricity cannot be replaced at Gerdau’s mills and power rationing or shortages could adversely affect production at those units. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Layoffs in the Company’s labor force could generate costs or negatively affect the Company’s operations.

A substantial number of our employees are represented by labor unions and are covered by collective bargaining or other labor agreements, which are subject to periodic negotiation. Strikes or work stoppages have occurred in the past and could reoccur in connection with negotiations of new labor agreements or during other periods for other reasons, including the risk of layoffs during a down cycle that could generate severance costs. Moreover, the Company could be adversely affected by labor disruptions involving unrelated parties that may provide goods or services to the Company. Strikes and other labor disruptions at any of the Company operations could adversely affect the operation of facilities and the timing of completion and the cost of capital of our projects.

We could be harmed by a failure or interruption of our information technology systems or automated machinery.

We rely on our information technology systems and automated machinery to effectively manage our production processes and operate our business. Advanced technology systems and machinery are nonetheless subject to defects, interruptions and breakdowns. Any failure of our information technology systems and automated machinery to perform as we anticipate could disrupt our business and result in production errors, processing inefficiencies and the loss of sales and customers, which in turn could result in decreased revenue, increased overhead costs and excess or out-of-stock inventory levels resulting in a material adverse effect on our business results. Although we have procedures in place to prevent and minimize the impact of a potential failure, including a data back-up system for our management systems, 24/7 monitoring of our servers and a cybersecurity program, there is no assurance that these will work properly or that there will not be an impact on our results of operations or financial condition.

In addition, our information technology systems and automated machinery may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from circumstances beyond our control, including fire, natural disasters, systems failures, viruses, cyber-attacks and other security breaches, including breaches of our production processing systems that could result in damage to our automated machinery, production interruptions or access to our confidential financial, operational or customer data. Any such damage or interruption could have a material adverse effect on our business results, including as a result of our facing significant fines, customer notice obligations or costly litigation, harming our reputation with our customers or requiring us to expend significant time and expense developing, repairing or upgrading our information technology systems and automated machinery.

Further, while we have some backup data-processing systems that could be used in the event of a failure of our primary systems, we do not yet have a disaster recovery plan or a backup data center that covers all of our units. While we endeavor to prepare for failures of our network by providing backup systems and procedures, we cannot guarantee that our current backup systems and procedures will operate satisfactorily in the event of a regional emergency. Any substantial failure of our backup systems to respond effectively or on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. 

We are subject to information technology risks related to breaches of security pertaining to sensitive company, customer, employee and vendor information as well as breaches in the technology used to manage operations and other business processes.

Our business operations rely upon secure information technology systems for data capture, processing, storage and reporting. Despite careful security and controls design, implementation, updating and independent third-party verification, our information technology systems, and those of our third-party providers, could become subject to employee error or malfeasance, cyber-attacks, or natural disasters. Network, system, application and data breaches could result in operational disruptions or information misappropriation. Access to internal applications required to plan our operations, source materials, manufacture and goods and account for orders could be denied or misused. Theft of intellectual property or trade secrets, and inappropriate disclosure of confidential company, employee, customer or vendor information, could stem from such incidents. Any of these operational disruptions and/or misappropriation of information could result in lost sales, business delays, negative publicity and could have a material effect on our business. We also could be required to spend significant financial and other resources to remedy the damage caused by a security breach, including to repair or replace networks and information technology systems, liability for stolen information, increased cybersecurity protection costs, litigation expense and increased insurance premiums.

Outbreaks of disease and health epidemics could have a negative impact on our business revenues and results of operations.

In late December 2019 a notice of pneumonia of unknown cause originating from Wuhan, Hubei province of China was reported to the World Health Organization. A novel corona virus called COVID-19 virus was identified, with cases soon confirmed in multiple provinces in China, as well as in several other countries. The Chinese government placed Wuhan and multiple other cities in Hubei province under quarantine, with approximately 60 million people affected. Since that time the virus has been identified in virtually every country, and travel to and from China, most Europe, India, the United States and other countries, including Brazil, has been suspended or restricted by certain air carriers and foreign governments. On March 2, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a “pandemic”, which is disease that is widespread around the world with an impact on society. The term has been applied to only a few diseases in history, including the deadly flu of 1918, the H1N1 flu in 2009 and HIV/AIDS. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in extended shutdowns of certain businesses and other activities in many countries, including the United States, Europe and Brazil.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact worldwide economic activity and pose the risk that we or our employees, contractors, suppliers, customers and other business partners may be prevented from conducting certain business activities for an indefinite period of time, including due to shutdowns that may be requested or mandated by governmental authorities or otherwise elected by companies as a preventive measure. In addition, mandated government authority measures or other measures elected by companies as preventative measures may lead to our customers being unable to complete purchases or other activities. COVID-19 may continue to have an adverse effect on trading and our operations and, given the uncertainty around the extent and timing of the potential future spread or mitigation and around the imposition or relaxation of protective measures, we cannot reasonably estimate the impact to our future results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Company production and delivery of steel, resulting in interruption of production in some steel mills as of the second half of March. In the Brazil Segment, the electric steel mills resumed production throughout April and the Blast Furnace 2 in Ouro Branco - MG resumed production in July. In the North America Segment, the plants continue to operate normally, with production levels gradually adjusted according to the reduction in demand observed in the industry. Civil construction continues with healthy demand levels. In the Special Steel Segment, in Brazil and in the USA, there were scheduled shutdowns at its different electrical mills and rolling mills, considering the level of existing inventories and the demand requested by each customer. In the South America Segment, operations continue to operate with production levels gradually adjusted to the demand observed in the industry.

The Company is following all COVID-19 pandemic prevention guidelines issued by the competent health agencies in the countries in which it operates. For this reason, the Company has adopted a series of measures to mitigate the risk of transmission in the workplace, such as using home office, creating crisis committees, canceling national and international trips and participation in external events. The Company daily monitors the evolution of the pandemic scenario and the impacts that this situation brings to the routines of employees, their families and, also, to the business. 

Demand for our steel products is directly linked to overall economic activity within those international markets in which we sell our products. A decline in the level of activity in either the domestic or the international markets within which we operate as a consequence of future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and related measures to contain them could adversely affect to a greater extent than experienced in 2020 and impact both the demand and the price of our products and have a material adverse effect on us.

The deterioration of Brazilian and global economic conditions could, among other things:

Risks Relating to our Mining Operations

Estimates of Gerdau’s mineral resources are based on interpretations and assumptions and may differ substantially from the quantities that actually can be extracted.

Gerdau’s mineral resources refer to estimated quantities of iron ore and minerals. There are a number of uncertainties that are inherent to such estimates of resources, including many factors that are beyond our control, such as geological and technological factors. The engineering of reserves involves estimating mineral deposits that have yet to be measured accurately, and the accuracy of any reserve estimates is directly related to the quality of the data available, geological interpretations and judgments and engineering. Moreover, estimates from different engineers may vary. As a result, the volume of mineral resources available that will or may be extracted at commercially feasible rates cannot be guaranteed, which could adversely affect the operating results and financial condition of the Company.

Moreover, in order to determine whether a project should advance to its development stage, Gerdau relies on estimates of the mineralized material occurring on its properties. Since Gerdau may not have conducted a feasibility study demonstrating proven or probable reserves, estimates of mineralized material content are less accurate than if they had been made in accordance with the definition of proven and probable reserves recognized by the SEC. Furthermore, until iron ore is effectively mined and processed, any reserves and grades of mineralization must be considered mere estimates. Such estimates are inaccurate and based on geological interpretation and statistical deduction drawn from analyses of drillings and samples, which may not be reliable. We cannot guarantee that such estimates on mineralized material are accurate and that such mineralized material can be extracted or processed profitably. Therefore, any decision to advance to the development stage is inherently risky. We also cannot guarantee that any minerals recovered in small-scale testing can be replicated in large-scale testing under actual conditions or on a production scale. Any material changes in the estimates of mineralized material will affect the financial feasibility of making a property productive, as well as the return on capital of such property.

Gerdau does not have any proven or probable mineral reserves, and Gerdau’s decision to start industrial production to supply its steelmaking activities and sell the surplus is not based on studies demonstrating the economic recovery of any mineral reserves, and therefore is inherently risky. Any resources employed in exploration or development may not be recovered.

Gerdau has not established any proven or probable mineral reserve on any of its properties. All exploration activities are based on mineral resources classified as mineralized materials, since they do not comply with the SEC definitions of proven or probable reserves. Gerdau is conducting comprehensive exploration studies to determine, in accordance with SEC definitions, the quantity of mineralized material that could be transformed into proven or probable reserves. Therefore, part of the volume of mineralized materials informed and discussed in this report may never make it to the development or production stage.

To demonstrate the existence of proven or probable reserves, it is necessary to carry out additional exploration activities to prove the existence of sufficient mineralized material, with satisfactory continuity, and to obtain a positive feasibility study demonstrating, with reasonable certainty, that the deposits can be extracted and produced profitably and legally. The absence of proven or probable reserves makes it more probable that the Company’s properties cease to be profitable and that the financial resources employed for exploration and development are never recovered, which would adversely affect the operating results and financial condition of the Company. 

Drilling and production risks could adversely affect the mining process.

After the discovery of mineral deposits, it could take several years from the initial drilling phase to the feasibility of production, and during such period the economic feasibility of production could suffer changes. Substantial time and investments are necessary to:

If a mining project proves to be economically unfeasible when Gerdau reaches the profit-earning stage, we could incur substantial losses and be forced to write off mineral assets. Furthermore, potential changes or complications involving metallurgical or technological processes during a project cycle could cause delays and generate higher-than-expected costs, rendering the project economically unfeasible and adversely affecting the financial condition and operating results of the Company.

The Company has one mining dam for the disposal of tailings, and any accident or defect that affects the structural integrity of any of its dams could affect its image, operating results, cash flows and financial condition.

Gerdau has one mining dam for the disposal of tailings in the state of Minas Gerais, the Alemães Dam, which has been in operation since 2011 and is regularly monitored. The data from the monitoring instruments are within the safety limits, with the dam classified as Class B (low risk) in accordance with the National Mining Dam Registry available on the website of the National Mining Agency (ANM). Gerdau adopts rigorous standards for engineering control and environmental supervision and conducts a half-yearly Geotechnical Stability Audit to ensure the stability of the dam. Gerdau has Mining Dam Emergency Action Plans that are filed at the regulatory agencies, as required by applicable law.

The Company also has other structures that are treated as Mining Dams by the ANM: UTM 2 Bays, North Dike of Tailing Pile 01, and North and South Bays of Tailings Pile A. These are structures that receive stormwater runoff and/or effluents from drainage at the Ore Treatment Units to enable the sedimentation of solid waste before the water is returned to the environment.

They also undergo external audits that attest to their geotechnical stability, as well as regular inspections and monitoring.

An accident involving any of these dams could have serious adverse consequences, including:

Any of these consequences could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s operating results, cash flow and financial condition.

Financial Risks

Any downgrade in the Company’s credit ratings could adversely affect the availability of new financing and increase its cost of capital.

In 2007, the international rating agencies, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s, classified the Company’s credit risk as “investment grade”, enabling the Company to access more attractive borrowing rates. During reviews in 2020, the Company maintained its investment grade with S&P and Fitch, with positive and stable outlook, respectively, and its Ba1 rating with Moody’s with positive outlook.

The loss of any one or more of Gerdau’s investment grade ratings could increase its cost of capital, impair its ability to obtain capital and adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations.

The Company’s level of indebtedness could adversely affect its ability to raise additional capital to fund operations, limit the ability to react to changes in the economy or the industry and prevent it from meeting its obligations under its debt agreements.

The Company’s degree of leverage, together with a resulting change in rating by the credit rating agencies, could have important consequences, including the following:

As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

In September 2015, the Company concluded the process of eliminating financial covenants in all of its contracts. Since October 2015, only financial transactions with BNDES contemplate monitoring of the Company’s indebtedness indexes, but with distinct characteristics in relation to those previously contained in the contracts with commercial banks (for more information, see Item 5.B.—Liquidity and Capital Resources — Indebtedness Ratios). In June 2019, the contracts with the BNDES were fully settled.

Variations in the foreign exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currencies of countries in which the Company operates may increase the cost of servicing its debt denominated in foreign currency and adversely affect its overall financial performance.

The Company’s results of operations are affected by fluctuations in the foreign exchange rates between the Brazilian real, the currency in which the Company prepares its financial statements, and the currencies of the countries in which it operates.

For example, the North America Business Segment reports its results in U.S. dollars. Therefore, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Brazilian real could affect its results of operations. The same occurs with all other businesses located outside Brazil with respect to the exchange rate between the local currency of the respective subsidiary and the Brazilian real. 

Export revenue and margins are also affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar and other local currencies of the countries where the Company produces in relation to the Brazilian real. The Company’s production costs are denominated in local currency, but its export sales are generally denominated in U.S. dollars. Revenues generated by exports denominated in U.S. dollars are reduced when they are translated into Brazilian real in periods during which the Brazilian currency appreciates in relation to the U.S. dollar.

The Brazilian real depreciated against the U.S. dollar by 17.1% in 2018, 4.0% in 2019 and 28.9% in 2020. Further pronounced depreciation has occurred to date in 2021, with the real having now depreciated a further 6.4% by the end of February, 2021.

The Company held debt denominated in foreign currency, mainly U.S. dollars, in an aggregate amount of R$ 13.4 billion at December 31, 2020, representing 76% of its consolidated gross debt (loans, financings, and debentures). Significant further depreciation in the Brazilian real in relation to the U.S. dollar or other currencies could reduce the Company’s ability to service its obligations denominated in foreign currencies, particularly since a significant part of its net sales revenue is denominated in Brazilian reais. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Exchange rate instability also may adversely affect the amount of dividends we can distribute to our shareholders, including the holders of our ADSs and the market price of our shares and ADSs.

We are subject to LIBOR-based risks.

On July 27, 2017, the head of the Financial Conduct Authority, or the FCA, announced the desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. On March 5, 2021 the FCA specifically announced the cessation of certain LIBOR settings permanently after December 31, 2021, and the balance of such settings will cease permanently after June 30, 2023. The potential effect of any such event on our net investment income cannot yet be determined and, at this time, it is not possible to predict the effect of any establishment of alternative reference rates or any other reforms to LIBOR that may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. Uncertainty as to the nature of such potential changes, alternative reference rates or other reforms may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Unfavorable outcomes in judicial, administrative and regulatory litigation may negatively affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

We are involved in several tax, civil and labor disputes involving significant monetary claims.

 The principal litigations are described more fully in “Legal Proceedings.” and in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report. Among the material matters for which no provision has been established because they are considered as possible contingent liabilities (possibility of any outflow in settlement is possible):

Brazilian federal authorities and the judiciary branch are investigating certain issues relating to CARF proceedings, as well as specific political contributions made by the Company, with the purpose of determining whether the Company engaged in any illegal conduct.

The Company believes it is not possible at this time to predict the term or outcome of the proceedings in Brazil, and currently there is not enough information to determine whether a provision for losses is required or any additional disclosures.

The failure to pay by our clients or the non-receipt, by the Company, of the credits held before financial institutions and originated from financial investments could adversely affect the Company’s revenues.

Gerdau may suffer losses from the default of our clients. Gerdau has a broad base of active clients and, in the case of default of a group of clients, Gerdau may suffer an adverse effect on its business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

This risk arises from the possibility of the Company not receiving the amounts due to it from sales transactions or credits payable by financial institutions, which originated from our financial investments, which could also have an adverse effect on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Gerdau.

Regulatory Risks

Restrictive measures on trade in steel products may affect the Company’s business by increasing the price of its products or reducing its ability to export.

Gerdau is a steel producer that supplies both the domestic market in Brazil and several international markets. The Company’s exports face competition from other steel producers, as well as restrictions imposed by importing countries in the form of quotas, ad valorem taxes, tariffs or increases in import duties, any of which could increase the costs of products and make them less competitive or prevent Gerdau from selling in these markets. There are no assurances that importing countries will not impose quotas, ad valorem taxes, tariffs or increase import duties, which could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Costs related to compliance with environmental regulations could increase if requirements become stricter, which could have a negative effect on the Company’s results of operations.

The Company’s industrial units and other activities must comply with a series of federal, state and municipal laws and regulations regarding the environment and the operation of plants in the countries in which they operate. These regulations include procedures relating to control of air emissions, disposal of liquid effluents and the handling, processing, storage, disposal and reuse of solid waste, hazardous or not, as well as other controls necessary for a steel company.

Non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations could result in administrative or criminal sanctions and closure orders, in addition to the obligation of repairing damage caused to third parties and the environment, such as clean-up of contamination. If current and future laws become stricter, spending on fixed assets and costs to comply with legislation could increase and negatively affect the Company’s financial condition. Moreover, future acquisitions could subject the Company to additional spending and costs in order to comply with environmental legislation. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected. 

Laws and regulations to reduce greenhouse gases and other atmospheric emissions could be enacted in the near future, with significant, adverse effects on the results of the Company’s operations, cash flows and financial condition.

One of the possible effects of the expansion of greenhouse gas reduction requirements is an increase in costs, mainly resulting from the demand for renewable energy and the implementation of new technologies in the productive chain. On the other hand, demand is expected to grow constantly for recyclable materials such as steel, which, being a product that could be recycled numerous times without losing its properties, results in lower emissions during the lifecycle of the product.

The Company expects operations overseas to be affected by future federal, state and municipal laws related to climate change, seeking to deal with the question of greenhouse gas (GHG) and other atmospheric emissions. Thus, one of the possible effects of this increase in legal requirements could be an increase in energy costs. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Our operations expose us to risks and challenges associated with conducting business in compliance with applicable anti-bribery anti-corruption and antitrust laws and regulations.

We have operations in Brazil and other countries in South America and North America. We face several risks and challenges inherent in conducting business internationally, where we are subject to a wide range of laws and regulations such as the Brazilian Anti-Corruption Law (Law 12.846/2013), Antitrust Law (Law 12.529/2011), the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and similar anti-bribery, anti-corruption and antitrust laws in other jurisdictions. In recent years there has been an increased focus on corruption in Brazil and also the investigation and enforcement activities of the United States under the FCPA and by other governments under similar laws and regulations. These laws generally prohibit corrupt payments to governmental officials and certain payments, gifts or remunerations to or from clients and suppliers.

Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines, criminal penalties and/or other sanctions against us, our officers or our employees, requirements to impose more stringent compliance programs, and prohibitions on the conduct of our business and our ability to participate in public biddings for contracts. We may incur expenses and recognize provisions and other charges in respect of such matters. In addition, the increased attention focused upon liability issues as a result of investigations, lawsuits and regulatory proceedings could harm our brand or otherwise impact the growth of our business. The retention and renewal of many of our contracts depends on creating a sense of trust with our customers and any violation of these laws and regulations may irreparably erode that trust and may lead to termination of such relationships and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. If any of these risks materialize, our reputation, strategy, international expansion efforts and our ability to attract and retain employees could be negatively impacted, and, consequently our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Brazilian federal authorities and the judiciary branch are investigating certain issues relating to Administrative Board of Tax Appeals (CARF) proceedings, as well as specific political contributions made by the Company, with the purpose of determining whether the Company engaged in any illegal conduct.  The Company previously disclosed that, in addition to its interactions with Brazilian authorities, the Company was providing information requested by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  The Company has since been informed by the SEC’s staff that it has closed its inquiry and therefore is not seeking any further information from the Company regarding these matters. The Company believes it is not possible at this moment to predict the term or outcome of the proceedings in Brazil, and that currently there is not enough information to determine whether a provision for losses is required or any additional disclosures.

Our governance and compliance processes may fail to prevent regulatory penalties and reputational harm.

We operate in a global environment, and our activities extend over multiple jurisdictions and complex regulatory frameworks with increased enforcement activities worldwide. Our governance and compliance processes, which include the review of internal control over financial reporting, may not prevent future breaches of legal, accounting or governance standards. We may be subject to breaches of our Code of Ethics and Conduct, anti-corruption policies and business conduct protocols and to instances of fraudulent behavior, corrupt practices and dishonesty by our employees, contractors or other agents. Our failure to comply with applicable laws and other standards could subject us to fines, loss of operating licenses and reputational harm.

Risks Relating to Brazil

Any further downgrading of Brazil’s credit rating could adversely affect the price of our shares.

We can be adversely affected by investors’ perceptions of risks related to Brazil’s sovereign debt credit rating. Rating agencies regularly evaluate Brazil and its sovereign ratings, which are based on a number of factors including macroeconomic trends, fiscal and budgetary conditions, indebtedness metrics and the perspective of changes in any of these factors. 

Brazil’s sovereign credit rating is currently rated below investment grade by the three main credit rating agencies. Consequently, the prices of securities issued by Brazilian companies have been negatively affected. A prolongation or worsening of the current Brazilian recession and continued political uncertainty, among other factors, could lead to further ratings downgrades. Any further downgrade of Brazil’s sovereign credit ratings could heighten investors’ perception of risk and, as a result, adversely affect the price of our shares.

Brazil continues to experience political instability, which may adversely affect the Company.

Brazil’s political environment has historically influenced, and continues to influence, the performance of the country’s economy. Political crises have affected and continue to affect the confidence of investors and the general public, which have historically resulted in economic deceleration and heightened volatility in the securities issued by Brazilian companies.

Brazil has experienced heightened economic and political instability derived from various causes such as corruption and scandals’ currently ongoing investigations into allegations of money laundering and corruption being conducted by the Office of the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor, including the largest such investigation, known as Lava Jato.

As a result of these investigations, a number of senior politicians, including members of Congress, and high-ranking executive officers of major corporations and state-owned companies in Brazil, have been arrested, convicted of various charges relating to corruption, entered into plea agreements with federal prosecutors and/or have resigned or been removed from their positions as a result of investigations.

The potential outcome of ongoing corruption scandals and their related investigations is uncertain, but they have already had an adverse impact on the image and reputation of those companies that have been implicated as well as on the general market perception of the Brazilian economy, political environment and the Brazilian capital markets. The Company has no control over, and cannot predict, whether such scandals, investigations or allegations will lead to further political and economic instability or whether new allegations against government officials will arise in the future or will adversely affect the Company.

In addition, the Brazilian economy remains subject to government policies, which may affect our operations and financial performance. Governmental policies and actions, if unsuccessful or poorly implemented, may affect our operations and financial performance. Uncertainty regarding the implementation by the new administration of promised transformational changes in monetary, fiscal and pension policies, as well as the enactment of corresponding legislation, could contribute to economic instability.

Inflation and government actions to combat inflation may contribute significantly to economic uncertainty in Brazil and could adversely affect the Company’s business.

If Brazil experiences high levels of inflation once again, the country’s rate of economic growth could slow, which would lead to lower demand for the Company’s products in Brazil. Inflation is also likely to increase some costs and expenses which the Company may not be able to pass on to its customers and, as a result, may reduce its profit margins and net income. In addition, high inflation generally leads to higher domestic interest rates, which could lead the cost of servicing the Company’s debt denominated in Brazilian reais to increase. Inflation may also hinder its access to capital markets, which could adversely affect its ability to refinance debt. Inflationary pressures may also lead to the imposition of additional government policies to combat inflation that could adversely affect our business. As a result, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Developments and the perception of risks in other countries, especially in the United States and emerging market countries, may adversely affect the market prices of our shares.

The market for securities issued by Brazilian companies is influenced, in some degree, by economic and market conditions in the United States and emerging market countries, especially other Latin American countries. The reaction of investors to economic developments in one country may cause the capital markets in other countries to fluctuate. Developments or adverse economic conditions in other emerging market countries have at times resulted in significant reductions of the investments from investment funds and declines in the amount of foreign currency invested in Brazil.

The Brazilian economy is also affected by international economic and market conditions, especially economic and market conditions in the United States. Share prices on the B3, for example, have historically been sensitive to fluctuations in United States interest rates as well as movements of the major United States stocks indexes. 

Economic developments in other countries and securities markets could adversely affect the market prices of our shares, which could make it more difficult for us to access the capital markets and finance our operations in the future on acceptable terms and could also have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to our Corporate Structure

The interests of the controlling shareholder may conflict with the interests of the non-controlling shareholders.

Subject to the provisions of the Company’s bylaws, the controlling shareholder has powers to:

By having such power, the controlling shareholder can make decisions that may conflict with the interest of the Company and other shareholders, which could adversely affect the financial condition and the results of operations of the Company.

As a foreign issuer, we have different disclosure and other requirements than U.S. domestic registrants.

As a foreign issuer, we may be subject to different disclosure and other requirements than domestic U.S. registrants. For example, as a foreign issuer, in the United States, we are not subject to the same disclosure requirements as a domestic U.S. registrant under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), including the requirements to prepare and issue quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or to file current reports on Form 8-K upon the occurrence of specified significant events, the proxy rules applicable to domestic U.S. registrants under Section 14 of the Exchange Act or the insider reporting and short-swing profit rules applicable to domestic U.S. registrants under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we intend to rely on exemptions from certain U.S. rules which will permit us to follow Brazilian legal requirements rather than certain of the requirements that are applicable to U.S. domestic registrants.

Furthermore, foreign issuers are required to file their annual report on Form 20-F within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, while U.S. domestic issuers that are accelerated filers are required to file their annual report on Form 10-K within 75 days after the end of each fiscal year. As a result of the above, even though we are required to file reports on Form 6-K disclosing the information which we have made or are required to make public pursuant to Brazilian law, or are required to distribute to shareholders generally, and that is material to us, you may not receive information of the same type or amount that is required to be disclosed to shareholders of a U.S. company.

As a foreign issuer, we are permitted to, and we do, rely on exemptions from certain NYSE corporate governance standards, including the requirement that a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors. This may afford less protection to our shareholders.

The NYSE’s rules require listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of their board members be independent and to have independent director oversight of executive compensation, nomination of directors and corporate governance matters. As a foreign issuer and a controlled Company, we are permitted to, and we will, follow home country practice in lieu of the above requirements. Brazilian law, the law of our home country, does not require that a majority of our board consist of independent directors or the implementation of a compensation committee or nominating a corporate governance committee, and our board include fewer, independent directors than would be required if we were subject to the NYSE rules applicable to most U.S. companies. As long as we rely on the foreign issuer exemptions to the NYSE rules, a majority of our board of directors is not required to consist of independent directors, our compensation committee is not required to be comprised entirely of independent directors, and we will not be required to have a nominating and corporate governance committee. Therefore, our board’s approach may be different from that of a board with a majority of independent directors, and, as a result, the management team’s oversight of the Company may be more limited than if we were subject to the NYSE rules applicable to most U.S. companies. 

Risks Relating to Our Preferred Shares and ADSs

If we do not maintain a registration statement and no exemption from the Securities Act registration is available, U.S. Holders of ADSs may be unable to exercise preemptive rights with respect to our preferred shares.

We may not be able to offer our preferred shares to U.S. holders of ADSs residing in the U.S. pursuant to preemptive rights granted to holders of our preferred shares in connection with any future issuance of our preferred shares unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is effective with respect to such preferred shares and preemptive rights, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. We are not obligated to file or maintain a registration statement relating to any preemptive rights offerings with respect to our preferred shares, and we cannot assure you that we will file or maintain any such registration statement. If such a registration statement is not filed and maintained and an exemption from registration does not exist, our depositary, will attempt to sell the preemptive rights, and you will be entitled to receive the proceeds of such sale. However, these preemptive rights will expire if the depositary does not sell them, and U.S. holders of ADSs will not realize any value from the granting of such preemptive rights. Even if a registration statement is effective, we may decide and are allowed to not extend any preemptive or subscription rights to U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) that are holders of our preferred shares and ADSs.

Judgments of Brazilian courts with respect to our preferred shares will be payable only in reais.

If proceedings are brought in the courts of Brazil seeking to enforce our obligations in respect of the preferred shares, we will not be required to discharge its obligations in a currency other than reais. Under Brazilian exchange control limitations, an obligation in Brazil to pay amounts denominated in a currency other than reais may only be satisfied in Brazilian currency at the exchange rate, as determined by the Central Bank, in effect on the date the judgment is obtained, and such amounts are then adjusted to reflect exchange rate variations through the effective payment date. The then prevailing exchange rate may not afford non-Brazilian investors with full compensation for any claim arising out of, or related to, our obligations under the preferred shares or the ADSs.

If an ADS holder surrenders its ADSs and withdraws preferred shares, it risks losing the ability to remit foreign currency abroad and certain Brazilian tax advantages.

An ADS holder benefits from the electronic certificate of foreign capital registration obtained by the custodian for our preferred shares underlying the ADSs in Brazil, which permits the custodian to convert dividends and other distributions with respect to the preferred shares into non-Brazilian currency and remit the proceeds abroad. If an ADS holder surrenders its ADSs and withdraws preferred shares, it will be entitled to continue to rely on the custodian’s electronic certificate of foreign capital registration for only five business days from the date of withdrawal. Thereafter, upon the disposition of or distributions relating to the preferred shares unless it obtain its own electronic certificate of foreign capital registration or qualifies under Brazilian foreign investment regulations that entitle some foreign investors to buy and sell shares on Brazilian stock exchanges without obtaining separate electronic certificates of foreign capital registration, such former holder of ADSs would not be able to remit abroad non-Brazilian currency. In addition, if an ADS holder does not qualify under the foreign investment regulations, it will generally be subject to less favorable tax treatment of dividends and distributions on, and the proceeds from any sale of, our preferred shares.

If an ADS holder attempts to obtain its own electronic certificate of foreign capital registration, it may incur expenses or suffer delays in the application process, which could delay its ability to receive dividends or distributions relating to our preferred shares or the return of its capital in a timely manner. The depositary’s electronic certificate of foreign capital registration may also be adversely affected by future legislative changes.

A.            HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY

Gerdau S.A. is a Brazilian corporation (Sociedade Anônima) that was incorporated on November 20, 1961 under the laws of Brazil. Its main registered office is located at Av. Dra. Ruth Cardoso, 8501 - 8º floor, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, and the telephone number is +55 (11) 3094 6300.

History

The current Company is the product of a number of corporate acquisitions, mergers and other transactions dating back to 1901. The Company began operating in 1901 as the Pontas de Paris nail factory controlled by the Gerdau family based in Porto Alegre, who is still the Company’s indirect controlling shareholder. In 1969, Pontas de Paris was renamed Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A., which today is the holding company controlled by the Gerdau family and the parent company of Gerdau S.A.

From 1901 to 1969, the Pontas de Paris nail factory grew and expanded its business into a variety of steel-related products and services. At the end of World War II, the Company acquired Siderúrgica Riograndense S.A., a steel producer also located in Porto Alegre, in an effort to broaden its activities and provide it with greater access to raw materials. In February 1948, the Company initiated its steel operations, which foreshadowed the successful mini mill model of producing steel in electric arc furnaces using steel scrap as the main raw material. At that time the Company adopted a regional sales strategy to ensure more competitive operating costs. In 1957, the Company installed a second unit in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in the city of Sapucaia do Sul, and in 1962, steady growth in the production of nails led to the construction of a larger and more advanced factory in Passo Fundo, also in Rio Grande do Sul.

In 1967, the Company expanded into the Brazilian state of São Paulo, purchasing Fábrica de Arames São Judas Tadeu, a producer of nails and wires, which was later renamed Comercial Gerdau and ultimately became the Company’s Brazilian distribution channel for steel products. In June 1969, the Company expanded into the Northeast of Brazil, producing long steel at Siderúrgica Açonorte in the state of Pernambuco. In December 1971, the Company acquired control of Siderúrgica Guaíra, a long steel producer in the state of Paraná in Brazil’s South Region. The Company also established a new company, Seiva S.A. Florestas e Indústrias, to produce lumber on a sustainable basis for the furniture, pulp and steel industries. In 1979, the Company acquired control of the Cosigua mill in Rio de Janeiro, which currently operates the largest mini mill in Latin America. Since then, the Company has expanded throughout Brazil with a series of acquisitions and new operations, and today owns 12 steel units in Brazil.

In 1980, the Company began to expand internationally with the acquisition of Gerdau Laisa S.A., the only long steel producer in Uruguay. In 1989, the Company acquired the Canadian company Gerdau Ameristeel Cambridge, a producer of common long rolled steel products located in Cambridge, Ontario. In 1992, the Company acquired control of Gerdau AZA S.A., a producer of crude steel and long rolled products in Chile. Over time, the Company increased its international presence by acquiring a non-controlling interest in a rolling mill in Argentina, a controlling interest in Diaco S.A. in Colombia, and, most notably, additional interests in North America through the acquisition of Gerdau Ameristeel MRM Special Sections, a producer of special sections, and the former Ameristeel Corp., a producer of common long rolled products. In 2002, through a series of transactions, the Company merged its North American steel production assets with those of the Canadian company Co-Steel, a producer of long steel, to create Gerdau Ameristeel, which is currently the second largest long steel producer in North America based on steel production volume.

In December 2003, Gerdau Açominas S.A., signed a purchase agreement with the Votorantim Group. Under this contract, Gerdau Açominas S.A. agreed to purchase the real estate and mining rights of Companhia Paraibuna de Metais, a company controlled by Votorantim Group, whose mines were located at Miguel Burnier, Várzea do Lopes and Gongo Soco in the state of Minas Gerais. The assets involved in this transaction include extraction concessions. The price agreed upon for the purchase of the real estate and mineral rights described above was US$ 30 million (R$88.1 million on the date of the acquisition). In 2012, Gerdau guaranteed its iron ore self-sufficiency for the integrated mill (Ouro Branco).

In September 2005, Gerdau acquired 36% of the stock issued by Sipar Aceros S.A., a long steel rolling mill, located in the Province of Santa Fé, Argentina. This interest, added to the 38% already owned by Gerdau represents 74% of the capital stock of Sipar Aceros S.A. In the same month, Gerdau concluded the acquisition of a 57% interest in Diaco S.A., the largest rebar manufacturer in Colombia. In January 2008, Gerdau acquired an additional interest of 40% for US$107.2 million (R$188.7 million on the acquisition date), increasing its interest to 99% of the capital stock, a figure that also takes into consideration the dilution of non-controlling interests, which explains the higher Gerdau share compared with the share in the two major acquisitions made. In June 2017, Gerdau concluded the operation to form a joint venture, based on the sale of its 50% interest in Gerdau Diaco, in Colombia, with Putney Capital Management. The transaction value attributed to the joint venture was US$165 million (R$546 million on the transaction date).

In January 2006, through its subsidiary Gerdau Hungria Holdings Limited Liability Company, Gerdau acquired 40% of the capital stock of Corporación Sidenor S.A. for US$ 219.2 million (R$ 493.2 million on the acquisition date). In December 2008, Gerdau Hungria Holding Limited Liability Company acquired for US$ 288.0 million (R$ 674.0 million on the acquisition date) a 20% interest in Corporación Sidenor S.A. With this acquisition, Gerdau became the majority shareholder (60%) in Corporación Sidenor. In January 2013, as a result of the settlement of a put option held by the Santander Group, the Company acquired the remaining 40% of Corporación Sidenor S.A., for R$ 599.2 million. In May 2016, the Company closed the sale of Gerdau Holdings Europa S.A. in Spain (the subsidiary which held Corporación Sidenor S.A.). The transaction value was € 155 million (equivalent to R$ 621 million on the completion of the sale).

In June 2006, Gerdau won the bid for 50% plus one share of the capital stock of Empresa Siderúrgica Del Perú S.A.A. (Siderperú) located in the city of Chimbote in Peru for US$ 60.6 million (R$ 134.9 million on the acquisition date). In November 2006, Gerdau also won the bid for 324,327,847 shares issued by Siderperú, which represented 33% of the total capital stock, for US$ 40.5 million, totaling US$ 101.1 million (R$ 219.8 million on the acquisition date). This acquisition added to the interest already acquired earlier in the year, for an interest of 83% of the capital stock of Siderperú. 

In March 2007, Gerdau acquired Siderúrgica Tultitlán, a mini mill located in the Mexico City that produces rebar and profiles. The price paid for the acquisition was US$ 259.0 million (R$ 536.0 million on the acquisition date).

In May 2007, Gerdau acquired an interest of 30% in Multisteel Business Holdings Corp., a holding of Indústrias Nacionales, C. por A. (“INCA”), a company located in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, that produces rolled products. This partnership allowed Gerdau to access the Caribbean market. The total cost of the acquisition was US$ 42.9 million (R$ 82.0 million on the acquisition date). In July 2007, Gerdau acquired an additional interest of 19% in Multisteel Business Holdings Corp., bringing its total interest in the Company to 49%. The total cost of this second acquisition was US$ 72.0 million (R$ 135.2 million on the acquisition date). In October 2014, Gerdau and Complejo Metalúrgico Dominicano S.A. confirmed the merger of operations of its companies Industrias Nacionales and METALDOM, becoming denominated Gerdau Metaldom. This merger is aimed at more efficiency and competitiveness in the Caribbean and Central America region and assures the supply of steel products for construction sector in the Dominican Republic.

In June 2007, Gerdau acquired 100% of the capital stock of Siderúrgica Zuliana C.A., a Venezuelan company operating a steel mill in the city of Ojeda, Venezuela. The total cost of the acquisition was US$ 92.5 million (R$ 176.2 million on the acquisition date).

In the same month, Gerdau and the Kalyani Group from India initiated an agreement to establish a joint ventures for an investment in Tadipatri, India. The joint venture included an interest of 45% in Kalyani Gerdau Steel Ltd. The agreement provides for shared control of the joint venture, and the purchase price was US$ 73.0 million (R$ 127.3 million on the acquisition date). In May 2008, Gerdau announced the conclusion of this acquisition. In July 2012, the Company obtained control of Kalyani Gerdau Steel Ltds (KGS), which the Company had an interest of 91.28% as of the control acquisition date. In 2012, until the date Gerdau acquired control over KGS, Gerdau made capital increases in KGS, which resulted in an increase of its shareholder interest, going from 80.57% in December 31, 2011 to 91.28%.

In September 2007, Gerdau concluded the acquisition of Chaparral Steel Company, increasing Gerdau’s portfolio of products and including a comprehensive line of structural steel products. The total cost of the acquisition was US$ 4.2 billion (R$ 7.8 billion on the acquisition date), plus the assumption of certain liabilities.

In October 2007, Gerdau executed a letter of intent for the acquisition of a 49% interest in the capital stock of the holding company Corsa Controladora, S.A. de C.V., headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico. The holding company owns 100% of the capital stock of Aceros Corsa, S.A. de C.V. and its distributors. The acquisition price was US$ 110.7 million (R$ 186.3 million on the acquisition date). In February 2008, the Company announced the conclusion of this acquisition.

In November 2007, Gerdau entered into a binding agreement for the acquisition of the steel company MacSteel from Quanex Corporation. MacSteel operates three mini mills located in Jackson, Michigan; Monroe, Michigan; and Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Company also operates six downstream operations in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin. The purchase price for this acquisition was US$1.5 billion (R$2.4 billion on the acquisition date) in addition to the assumption of their debts and some liabilities. Gerdau concluded the acquisition in April 2008.

In June 2008, the parent company Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A. acquired a 29% stake of voting and total capital in Aços Villares S.A. from BNDESPAR for R$ 1.3 billion. As a payment, Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A. issued debentures to be exchanged for Gerdau S.A.’s common shares. In December 2009 the Company’s stake in Aços Villares S.A. owned through its subsidiary Corporación Sidenor S.A. was transferred to direct control of Gerdau S.A., for US$ 218 million (R$ 384 million on the acquisition date), which then owned a total 59% stake in Aços Villares S.A. On December 30, 2010, Gerdau S.A. and Aços Villares S.A. shareholders approved the merger into Gerdau S.A. of Aços Villares S.A. The transaction was carried out through a share exchange, whereby the shareholders of Aços Villares S.A. received one share in Gerdau S.A. for each lot of twenty-four shares held. The new shares were credited on February 10, 2011. As a result of the transaction, Aços Villares S.A. was delisted from the Brazilian stock exchange.

On August 30, 2010, Gerdau S.A. concluded the acquisition of all outstanding common shares issued by Gerdau Ameristeel that it did not yet hold either directly or indirectly, for US$ 11.00 per share in cash, corresponding to a total of US$ 1.6 billion (R$ 2.8 billion). With the acquisition, Gerdau Ameristeel was delisted from the New York and Toronto stock exchanges.

On July 14, 2015 the Company approved the acquisition of the minority interests described below, in the following companies: Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. (4.77%), Gerdau Açominas S.A. (3.50%), Gerdau Aços Especiais S.A. (2.39%) and Gerdau América Latina Participações S.A. (4.90%), with its counterparts Itaú Unibanco S.A. and ArcelorMittal Netherlands BV. The acquisitions of these interests, in a total amount of R$1,986 million, allowed Gerdau to hold more than 99% of the total capital of each of the subsidiaries. 

On March 30, 2018, the Company concluded the sale of its wire-rod production unit located in Beaumont, Texas and of the processing units, Beaumont Wire Products and Carrollton Wire Products, to Optimus Steel LLC for US$ 99.5 million (equivalent to R$ 330.7 million). The mill has a melt shop with annual steel production capacity of approximately 700,000 short tons and has the capacity to produce wire-rods and rebar.

On June 29, 2018, the Company concluded the sale of 100% of the shares of Aza Participações SpA and its subsidiaries, Gerdau AZA SA, Aceros Cox SA, Armacero - Matco SA and Salomon Sack S.A. through Gerdau Chile Inversiones Limitada, an indirect subsidiary of Gerdau S.A., to a group of Chilean investors formed by Ingeniería e Inversiones Limitada, Inversiones Reyosan SpA, Los Andes S.A. de Inversiones and Matco Cables SpA. This sale included three production plants with an annual installed capacity of 520,000 tonnes of recycled long steel and its distribution network in Chile. The transaction value corresponds to US$ 154.1 million (equivalent to R$ 594.2 million on the date of the conclusion of the sale).

On July 31, 2018, the Company concluded the sale of its two hydropower plants in Goiás for R$ 835 million to Kinross Brasil Mineração, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the mining company Kinross Gold Corporation. The plants Caçu and Barra dos Coqueiros, inaugurated in 2010, have aggregate installed capacity of 155 MW.

On September 14, 2018, the Company announced to the market that the Brazilian antitrust authority known as CADE approved, without restrictions, the creation of a new company to manage and promote a loyalty program for Brazil’s retail construction industry, called Juntos Somos Mais Fidelização S.A., jointly with Votorantim Cimentos and Grupo Tigre. The initiative functions like a benefits program for stores and respective vendors, with the aim of improving service to end customers and to construction industry professionals. Votorantim Cimentos, founder of the program in 2015, will have a 45% stake, while Gerdau and Grupo Tigre each have 27.5%.

On October 31, 2018, the Company concluded the sale of its interest in Gerdau Hungria KFT Y CIA Sociedad Regular Colectiva, a subsidiary of the Company located in Spain and the holder of 98.89% of the shares of Gerdau Steel India Ltd., to Blue Coral Investment Holdings Pte. Ltd and Mountainpeak Investment Holdings Ltd. This sale comprises 100% of its operations and assets in India, including the special steels industrial unit located in Tadipatri, with annual installed capacity of 250 thousand tonnes of crude steel and 300 thousand tonnes of rolled steel. The transaction value corresponds to US$ 120 million (equivalent to R$ 490.2 million on the signing date of the agreement).

On November 5, 2018, the Company concluded the sale to Commercial Metals Company (CMC) of four U.S. rebar mills and rebar fabrication locations. The sale includes the steel mills in Jacksonville, FL, Knoxville, TN, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, and Sayreville, NJ, as well as all of Gerdau’s U.S. rebar fabrication facilities. The transaction value is US$ 600 million (equivalent to R$ 2,222.9 million) as well as working capital adjustments.

On November 26, 2019, the Company, through its subsidiary Gerdau Aços Longos S.A., entered into a final agreement with Hierros Añón, S.A. and Gallega de Mallas, S.L. for the acquisition of 96.35% of the shares issued by Siderúrgica Latino-Americana S.A. (“SILAT”), a company located in Caucaia, in the metropolitan area of Fortaleza, state of Ceará, with transaction value of US$ 110.8 million, subject to the typical adjustments to the acquisition price. On November 30, 2020, the Company, through its subsidiary Gerdau Aços Longos SA, concluded, after complying with the respective precedent conditions, including the approval of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense - CADE, the acquisition of 96.35% of the total and voting shares issued by Siderúrgica Latino-Americana SA (“Silat”) for R$ 475,961 thousand. Silat has an annual installed capacity of 600 thousand tons of rolled long steel. Through this transaction, Gerdau strengthens its position in the region and reinforces its strategy of better serving its customers in the Brazilian market.

On July 2020, the Company announced the creation of Gerdau Next, its New Business arm, which focuses on the long-term strategy for developing new products and businesses related to the production of steel, and which is aligned with the company’s guidelines for innovation and disruption.

Steel Industry

The world steel industry is composed of hundreds of steel producing facilities and is divided into two major categories based on the production method utilized: integrated steel mills and non-integrated steel mills, sometimes referred to as “mini mills”. Integrated steel mills normally produce steel from iron oxide, which is extracted from iron ore melted in blast furnaces, and refine the iron into steel, mainly using basic oxygen furnaces or, more rarely, electric arc furnaces. Non-integrated steel mills produce steel by melting in electric arc furnaces scrap steel, which occasionally is complemented by other metals such as direct-reduced iron or hot-compressed iron. According to World Steel, in 2019 (the most recent year for which information is available), 27.9.% of the total crude steel production in the world was through mini mill process and the remaining 71.6% was through the integrated process.

Crude Steel Production by Process in 2019*

Source: World Steel/ Steel Statistic Yearbook 2020

*Most recent year for which information available

Over the past 10 years, according to World Steel, total annual crude steel production has grown from 1,239 million tonnes in 2009 to 1,875 million tonnes in 2019, an increase of 51.3%.

The main factor responsible for the increase in the demand for steel products has been China. Since 1993, China has become the world’s largest steel market and currently consumes as much as the United States and Europe combined.

Over the past year, total annual crude steel production increased by 2.7% from 1,825 million tonnes in 2018 to 1,875 million tonnes in 2019.

Crude Steel Production (in million tonnes)

Source: World Steel/Annual Statistics 

China is rebalancing its economy to move more towards a consumer-driven economy. GDP growth was aligned with the government expectation and despite the injection of credit into the construction and infrastructure sectors, the country showed a reduction in steel consumption for the third year in a row. In 2018, China’s crude steel production was 996.3 million tonnes, an increase of 7.3% compared to 2018. In 2019, China’s share of world steel production was 53% of world total crude steel.

Crude Steel Production by Country in 2019 (million tonnes) 

 Source: World Steel/Annual Statistics

The Brazilian Steel Industry

According World Steel Association, in 2019 Brazil was the world’s 9th largest producer of crude steel, with a production of 33.7 million tonnes, a 1.7% share of the world market and 78.2% of the total steel production in South America during the year.

Total sales of Brazilian steel products were 32.6 million tonnes in 2019, 35.4 million tonnes in 2018 and 34.4 million tonnes in 2017, exceeding domestic demand of 20.6 million tonnes in 2019, 21.2 million tonnes in 2018 and 19.2 million tonnes in 2017. In 2019, total steel sales in the domestic market increased 1.3% from 2018, going from 18.3 million tonnes to 18.5 million tonnes.

In 2019, the total of Brazilian steel products sales was 30.9 million tonnes. The breakdown of total sales was 66.7% or 20.6 million tonnes of flat steel products, formed by domestic sales of 10.9 million tonnes and exports of 9.7 million tonnes. The remaining 33.3% or 10.3 million tonnes represented sales of long steel products, which consisted of domestic sales of 7.6 million tonnes and exports of 2.7 million tonnes. 

Breakdown of Total Sales of Brazilian Steel Products (million tonnes)

Source: Instituto Aço Brasil

Domestic demand — Historically, the Brazilian steel industry has been affected by significant variations in domestic steel demand. Although domestic consumption varies in accordance with Gross Domestic Product (GDP), variations in steel consumption tend to be more accentuated than changes in the level of economic growth. In 2019, the Brazilian GDP increased by 1.1% and steel consumption decreased by 3%.

Exports and imports — Over the past 20 years, the Brazilian steel industry has been characterized by a structural need for exports. The Brazilian steel market has undergone periods of excess capacity, cyclical demand and intense competition in recent years. Demand for finished steel products has lagged total supply (total production plus imports).

In 2019, Brazilian steel exports totaled 12.4 million tonnes, representing 40.2% of total sales (domestic sales plus exports). Brazil has performed an important role in the world export market, principally as an exporter of semi-finished products (slabs, blooms and billets) for industrial use or for re-rolling into finished products. Brazilian exports of semi-finished products totaled 8.5 million tonnes in 2019, 9.6 million tonnes in 2018 and 9.4 million tonnes in 2017, representing 68.6% 67.8% and 64.0% of Brazil’s total exports of steel products, respectively.

Brazilian Production and Apparent Demand for Steel Products (million tonnes)

Source: Instituto Aço Brasil

Brazil used to be a small importer of steel products. In 2019, imports from Brazil were 2.3 million tonnes, 2.4 million tonnes in 2018 and 2.3 million tonnes in 2017. In 2019, imports represented 11.2% of apparent domestic consumption, an increase compared to 2018, which was mainly due to higher prices in the domestic market compared to the international market. 

Raw materials — One of Brazil’s major competitive advantages is the low cost of its raw materials. Brazil has an abundance of high quality iron ore. Various integrated producers are located in the state of Minas Gerais, where some of the world’s biggest iron ore mines are located. The cost of iron ore from small miners in Brazil is very competitive if compared to the cost of iron ore in China, for example.

In Brazil, most of the scrap metal consumed by steel mills comes from Brazil’s southeast and south regions. Mill suppliers deliver scrap metal obtained from obsolete products and industrial scrap directly to the steel mills.

Brazil is a major producer of pig iron. Most of the pig iron used in the steel industry comes from the state of Minas Gerais and the Carajás region, where it is produced by various small and midsized producers. The price of pig iron follows domestic and international markets, with charcoal and iron ore the main components of its cost formation.

North American Steel Industry

The global steel industry is highly cyclical and competitive due to the large number of steel producers, the dependence upon cyclical end markets and the high volatility of raw material and energy prices. The North American steel industry is currently facing a variety of challenges, including volatile pricing, high fixed costs and low priced imports. The future success of North American steel producers is dependent upon numerous factors, including general economic conditions, levels and prices of steel imports and the strength of the U.S. dollar.

Crude Steel Production by North American Countries (million tonnes)

 Source: World Steel/Monthly Statistics

Beginning in mid-2000 and continuing through 2002, the North American steel industry experienced a severe downward cycle due to excess global production capacity, high import levels at low prices, including prices that were below the combined costs of production and shipping, and weak general economic conditions. These forces resulted in lower domestic steel prices and significant domestic capacity closures. Prices for many steel products reached 10-year lows in late 2001. As a result of these conditions, over 20 U.S. steel companies have sought protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code since the beginning of 2000.

In response to these conditions, in March 2002, Former President George W. Bush imposed a series of tariffs and quotas on certain imported steel products under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974. These measures were intended to give the domestic steel industry an opportunity to strengthen its competitive position through restructuring and consolidation. On November 10, 2003, the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) Appellate Body issued a ruling that upheld an initial WTO panel ruling that declared the Section 201 tariffs on steel imports to be in violation of WTO rules concerning safeguard measures. On December 4, 2003, Former President Bush signed a proclamation terminating the steel safeguard tariffs, and announced that the tariffs had achieved their purpose and that changed economic circumstances indicated it was time to terminate them. International trade negotiations, such as the ongoing Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development steel subsidy agreement negotiations and the WTO Doha Round negotiations, may affect future international trade rules with respect to trade in steel products. More recently, in a White House signing ceremony on March 8, 2018, former President Donald Trump announced he was imposing import tariffs of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum. After invoking a rarely-used Cold War-era law last year, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross concluded imports were a threat, and he recommended the imposition of these new restrictions covering an estimated $46.1 billion of imports, or about 2% of total U.S. goods imported in 2017. 

The North American steel industry has experienced a significant amount of consolidation in the last decade. Bankrupt steel companies, once overburdened with underfunded pension, healthcare and other legacy costs, were relieved of obligations and purchased by other steel producers. This consolidation, including the purchases of the assets of LTV Corporation, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Trico Steel Co. LLC and National Steel Corporation, has created a lower operating cost structure for the resulting entities and a less fragmented industry. In the bar sector in 2002, the combination of Gerdau North America and Co-Steel in October 2002 and Nucor Corporation’s acquisition of Birmingham Steel Corporation in February 2002 significantly consolidated the market. Gerdau’s acquisition of the North Star Steel assets from Cargill in November 2004, Sheffield Steel Corporation in 2006 and Chaparral Steel Company in September 2007, have further contributed to this consolidation trend. Since the beginning of 2007, Tata Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. acquired Corus Group PLC, SSAB Svenskt Staal AB acquired Ipsco Inc., Essar Global Ltd. acquired Algoma Steel Inc., United States Steel Corporation acquired Stelco Inc., and Arcelormittal Inc. acquired Bayou Steel Corporation.

The steel industry demonstrated strong performance through the middle of 2006, resulting from the increased global demand for steel related products and a continuing consolidation trend among steel producers. Beginning in the fall of 2008, the steel industry began feeling the negative effects of the severe economic downturn brought on by the credit crisis. The economic downturn continued through 2009 and has resulted in a significant reduction in the production and shipment of steel products in North America, as well as reduced exports of steel products from the United States to other parts of the world. Since the beginning of 2010, the economy in North America has been showing signs of upturn, contributing to a gradual recovery in the steel industry, with an important improvement in the non-residential and automotive sector. The Company believes that this trend should continue throughout 2021.

Company Profile

Gerdau S.A. is mainly dedicated to the production and commercialization of steel products in general, through its mills located in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the United States, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Gerdau is the leading manufacturer of long steel in North and South America. Gerdau believes it is one of the major global suppliers of special steel for the automotive industry. In Brazil, Gerdau also produces flat steel and iron ore, activities that are expanding Gerdau’s product mix and the competitiveness of its operations. In addition, Gerdau believes it is one of Latin America’s biggest recyclers and, worldwide, transforms millions of tonnes of scrap metal into steel every year, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development in the regions where it operates. Gerdau’s shares are listed on the New York, São Paulo and Madrid stock exchanges.

Gerdau holds significant market share in the steel industries of almost all countries where it operates and was classified by World Steel Association as the world’s 30^th largest steel producer based on its consolidated crude steel production in 2019, the most recent year for which information is available.

Gerdau operates steel mills that produce steel by direct iron ore reduction (DRI) in blast furnaces and in electric arc furnaces (EAF). In Brazil it operates three integrated steel mills, including its largest mill, Ouro Branco, located in the state of Minas Gerais. Gerdau currently has a total of 39 steel producing facilities globally.

As of December 31, 2020, Gerdau’s total consolidated installed annual capacity, excluding investments in joint ventures and associates companies, was approximately 18.5 million tonnes of crude steel and 15.8 million tonnes of rolled steel products. The Company had total consolidated assets of R$ 63.1 billion, shareholders’ equity (including non-controlling interests) of R$ 30.9 billion, consolidated net sales of R$ 43.8 billion and a total consolidated net income (including non-controlling interests) of R$ 2,388.1 million as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Its product mix includes crude steel (slabs, blooms and billets), which is sold to rolling plants; finished products for the construction industry, such as rebar, wire-rods, structural shapes, hot-rolled coils and heavy plates; finished industrial products, such as commercial rolled-steel bars, light profiles and wires; and agricultural products, such as stakes, smooth wire and barbed-wire. Gerdau also produces special steel items using cutting-edge technology.

The Company currently operates 11 steel production units in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and believes it is one of the leading companies in North America in the production of certain long steel products, such as rebar, wire rod, bars and beams.

The Company’s operating strategy is based on the acquisition and construction of steel mills located near its clients and the sources of the raw materials needed make steel, such as scrap steel, pig iron and iron ore. Therefore, historically, most of production has been directed to supply the local markets of the regions where the Company operates. However, the Company also exports an excess portion of its production to other countries. 

Through its subsidiaries and associate companies, the Company also engages in other activities related to the production and sale of steel products, including reforestation projects; electric power generation projects; production of iron ore and pig iron; as well as fab shops and downstream operations.

Operations

The Company sells its products to a diversified list of customers for use in the construction, manufacturing and agricultural industries. Shipments by the Company’s Brazilian operations include both domestic and export sales. Most of the shipments by the Company’s business segments in North and Latin America (except Brazil) are aimed at their respective local markets.

The Company manages its Business Segments as follows:

The following tables present the Company’s consolidated shipments in tonnage, net sales, and production by Business Segment for the periods indicated:

(1) The information does not include data from associate and joint ventures.

Net Sales

(1) The information does not include data from associate and joint ventures.

Production

(1) The information does not include data from associate and joint ventures.

Steel information

The Brazil Business Segment minimizes delays by delivering its products directly to customers through outsourced companies under Gerdau’s supervision. Sales trends in both the domestic and export markets are forecasted monthly. The Brazil Business Segment uses a proprietary information system to stay up-to-date on market developments so that it can respond swiftly to fluctuations in demand. Gerdau considers its flexibility in shifting between markets (Brazilian and export markets) and its ability to monitor and optimize inventory levels for most of its products in accordance with changing demand as key factors to its success.

In 2020, crude steel production remained in line with 2019, mainly due to the performance of the domestic market. Given the strong demand observed, the Company directed 84% of its shipments in the Brazil Business Segment to the domestic market, which is 13% higher than in 2019, while only 16% was directed to the international market.

The numbers demonstrate the resilience of the construction sector, in both the retail segment and direct sales to contractors, as well as the industry’s gradual recovery. 

Iron ore information

Gerdau’s mineral assets were incorporated to its business through the acquisition of lands and mining rights of Grupo Votorantim, in 2004, encompassing the Miguel Burnier, Várzea do Lopes, and Gongo Soco compounds, located in the iron producing region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. From 2004 to 2019, several geological surveys (drilling and superficial geological mapping) were conducted in order to obtain further information on the acquired resources.

The following table shows Gerdau’s iron ore production in the last five fiscal years:

North America Business Segment

The North America Business Segment has annual production capacity of 7.8 million tonnes of crude steel and 5.7 million tonnes of finished steel products. It has a vertically integrated network of 10 steel units, scrap recycling facilities and downstream operations. North America Business Segment’s products are generally sold to steel service centers, steel fabricators or directly to original equipment manufacturers for use in a variety of industries, including construction, automotive, mining, cellular and electrical transmission, metal construction fabrication and equipment fabrication. Most of the raw material feed stock for the mini mill operations is recycled steel scrap.

The mills of this business operation manufacture and commercialize a wide range of steel products, including steel reinforcement bars (rebar), merchant bars, structural shapes, beams and special sections. Some of these products are used by the downstream units to make products with a higher value-add, which consists of railroad spikes, super light beam processing, elevator guide rails and grinding balls.

Sales of finished products to U.S. and Canadian customers are centrally managed by sales office in Tampa, Florida. There is also a sales office in Selkirk, Manitoba for managing sales of special sections and one in Midlothian, Texas for managing sales of structural and merchant bar products. Metallurgical service representatives at the mills provide technical support to the sales group. Sales of the super light beam products are managed by sales representatives located at their respective facilities. Elevator guide rails are generally sold through a bidding process in which employees at Gerdau’s facilities work closely with customers to tailor product requirements, shipping schedules and prices.

Steel production in 2020 was slightly higher than in 2019, in line with the level of shipments.

South America Business Segment

The South America Business Segment comprises five steel facilities, retail facilities, fab shops (including joint ventures and associate companies) and scrap processing facilities. The entire operation is focused on the respective domestic markets of each country, operating mini mills facilities with annual manufacturing capacity of 1.7 million tonnes of crude steel and 1.0 million tonnes of finished steel products. The countries in the South America Business Segment are Argentina, Peru, Venezuela and Uruguay. Gerdau also operates in the markets of Colombia and Dominican Republic through joint ventures.

Steel production and shipments in 2020 decreased compared to 2019, due to the impacts from the pandemic in the first half of the year, especially in Peru and Argentina. This scenario in these countries was completely reversed as of the second half of the year, with the result driven by the good performance of the construction industry.

 Special Steel Business Segment

The Special Steel Business Segment consists of the operations in Brazil (Charqueadas, Pindamonhangaba and Mogi das Cruzes) and the United States (Fort Smith, Jackson and Monroe). The segment produces special steels for engineering steel, tool steel and forged bars. To meet the needs of more demanding markets, this segment is constantly developing new products, such as high-resistance steels, clean steel, high temper steel, good machinability steel, among others.

In Brazil, Gerdau special steel units are located in the states of Rio Grande do Sul (Charqueadas) and São Paulo (Pindamonhangaba and Mogi das Cruzes). The special steel units in Brazil have aggregate annual production capacity of 1.4 million tonnes of crude steel and 1.8 million tonnes of rolled steel. The operation has over 300 clients that are located primarily in Brazil. However, it also exports products, primarily to South America, North America and Europe.

In North America, the Special Steel Segment is present in the United States, with three units located in Jackson (Michigan), Monroe (Michigan) and Fort Smith (Arkansas). The company also operates a downstream unit in Huntington (Indiana). The segment has annual installed production capacity of 1.3 million tonnes of crude steel and 1.3 million tonnes of rolled steel products, with a portfolio of more than 200 clients located mainly in the United States, Canada and Mexico The plants of this business segment have commercial and operational synergies.

Steel production and shipments decreased in 2020, mainly due to the economic impacts caused by the pandemic during 2020. The Special Steel BD was the business division most affected by the pandemic, mainly due to the shutdowns at many auto assemblers in both Brazil and the United States. As of the second half of the year, the industry began to stage a gradual recovery, especially in Brazil. Therefore, the results in the second half of 2020 were substantially higher than in the first half. 

Exports

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictive measures to contain the disease were the main factors that drove international prices and the steel dynamic. The world production decreased 0.9% year-on-year. The new record of China production in the first quarter, which rapidly recovered from the pandemic effects, was not enough to offset the contraction of production from the other regions.

According to Worldsteel, China achieved more than 1 billion tonnes of steel production in 2020, which represents a 5.2% increase, comparing to the previous year. This increase was due to measures taken by the government to spare the economy from the impact of the pandemic. Furthermore, another important matter to China’s increase production was the program to substitute capacity. According to Worldsteel, from May to October, the Chinese production surpass 90 million of tons per month. The country was responsible for 56.5% of world steel production. Despite the record in production, China was steel importer for four consecutive months, mainly of semi-finished.

Steel production decreased in the European Union, in the Americas and Oceania. Besides the pandemic, Europe still suffered the uncertainties of Brexit. Only at the end of 2020 did the United Kingdom and the European Union conclude a free trade agreement.

While the first semester was impacted by the effects and restrictive measures to contain COVID-19 in most countries, the second half of the year faced a recover in the global steel production. The optimism in the markets, thanks to the increase in the steel consumption, less availability of products to sell, long periods to conclude production and the inventories reduction, were responsible for the significative raw materials, crude steel and finished products margin increase.

In 2020, Gerdau’s Brazilian exports remained focused in South and Central America, boosted by the supply in their Joint Ventures. In addition, 2020 presented a significant increase in exports to Asia during the months most impacted by the pandemic in the Americas.

Although Chinese crude steel production reached more than one billion tonnes, in 2020, China exerted less influence on international steel prices due to the focus on supplying the domestic market. The production of crude steel in China has evolved considerably, considering that in 2000 it was only 129 million tonnes per year, but, on the other hand, domestic consumption has been growing in the same proportion.

Turkey was possibly the country, among the 10 largest steel producers in the world, that suffered the greatest impact due to protectionist measures and reduction in domestic steel consumption. Turkish production (in the first 11 months of 2020) was 30.8 million tonnes, representing a reduction of 10.4% in relation to the same period of the previous year. Turkish rebar exports to the United States were just 38,000 tonnes in the period from January to September 2019, against 348,000 tonnes in the same period in 2018. Before section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which provides tariffs of 25% in the steel imported from Turkey, Turkish rebar exports to the United States were around one million tonnes a year.

Protection measures were also in place in the EU market and the most affected by these measures were steel producers in Turkey, Russia and Ukraine, which used to be major exporters to European markets. Due to the exhaustion of import quotas imposed on these countries in the EU, Turkey and Russia needed to search for new markets, causing a strong influence on international prices due to greater competition in alternative markets to the USA and the EU.

In 2020, Gerdau’s Brazilian exports continued to focus on South and Central America, which accounted for 75% of exports, leveraged by supply from the group’s companies and joint ventures. 

The following table presents Gerdau’s Brazilian exports by destination for select periods:

Gerdau remains focused on serving strategic markets that contribute results to its operation, analyzing the impacts and opportunities arising from the volatile international political-economic scenario and consolidating the presence of its entire product portfolio in these markets in 2021.

Products

The Company supplies its customers with a wide range of products, including steel products and iron ore:

Semi-finished products (Billets, Blooms and Slabs)

The semi-finished products (billets, blooms and slabs) have relatively low added value compared to other steel products. Billets are bars from square sections of long steel that serve as inputs to produce wire rod, rebars and merchant bars. They represent an important part of the products from the Ouro Branco mill. Blooms are used to manufacture products such as springs, forged parts, heavy structural shapes and seamless tubes. Slabs are used in the steel industry for the rolling of a broad range of flat rolled products, and mainly used to produce hot and cold rolled coils, heavy slabs, profiles and heavy plates.

The semi-finished products are produced using continuous casting and, in the case of blooms and billets there is subsequent rolling process.

Common Long Rolled Products

Common long rolled products represent a major portion of the Company’s production. The Company’s main long rolled products include rebars, wire rods, merchant bars, light shapes and profiles, which are used mainly by the construction and manufacturing industries.

Drawn Products

Drawn products include barbed and barbless fence wire, galvanized wire, fences, concrete reinforcing wire mesh, nails and clamps. These products are not exported and are usually sold to the manufacturing, construction and agricultural industries.

Special Steel Products

Special steel requires advanced manufacturing processes because they have specific physical and metallurgical characteristics for applications with high mechanical demands. This steel is a key product for the automotive industry, as it is used in auto parts, light and heavy vehicles and agricultural machinery. Special steels also serve other relevant markets, such as oil and gas, wind energy, machinery and equipment, mining and rail, among others. 

Flat Products

The Ouro Branco unit produces cast slabs, which are rolled into flat products, such as hot-rolled steel coils and heavy plates. Gerdau also produces hot-rolled coils, which are sold in the domestic market, and heavy plates, which are sold in the domestic and export markets. The Company, through its distribution channel and direct sales, distributes these hot-rolled coils and heavy plates and resells flat steel products manufactured by other Brazilian steel products, which adds more value through additional processing at flat steel service centers.

Iron Ore

Gerdau operates three mines producing iron ore, all located in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais (Várzea do Lopes, Miguel Burnier and Gongo Soco). The mines produce the following: sinter feed (featuring low content of contaminants and good metallurgical properties, enabling its use as a base material); pellet feed/concentrated (superior quality enabling its use as a chemical balancer in the synthetizing process, while being also adequate for pelletizing, blast furnace quality - low loss by calcination — PPC); hematite fines (small scale production, used as input in Gerdau’s furnaces); and granulated (high quality, used chiefly for own consumption at the Ouro Branco Mill).

The following table presents the main products and the contributions to net revenue and net income by Business Segment for the periods shown (consolidated):

¹ Include iron ore sales. 

Production Process

In Brazil, the Company has a decentralized production process, using both mini mills and integrated facilities. In general, the Company has used the mini mill model to produce steel products outside of Brazil. 

Semi-integrated Process (Mini mills)

The Company operates 26 mini mills worldwide. Mini mills are equipped primarily with electric arc furnaces that can melt steel scrap and produce steel product at the required specifications requested by customers. After loading the furnace with a preset mixture of raw material (i.e., steel scrap, pig iron and sponge iron), electric power is applied in accordance with a computer controlled melting profile. The Company’s mini mill production process generally consists of the following steps: obtaining raw material, melting, casting, rolling and drawing. The basic difference between this process and the integrated mill production process described below is in the first processing phase, i.e., the steelmaking process. Mini mills are smaller plants than integrated facilities and the Company believes they provide certain advantages over integrated mills, including:

•     lower capital costs,

•     lower operational risks due to the low concentration of capital and installed capacity in a single production plant,

•     proximity of production facilities to raw-material sources,

•     proximity to local markets and easier adjustment of production levels, and

•     more effective managerial structure due to the relative simplicity of the production process.

Integrated Process

Gerdau operates four integrated mills, three of which are located in Brazil and one in Peru. The Ouro Branco Mill is the largest integrated facility operated by the Company. It produces steel from pig iron from the blast furnace and has some of the advantages of a mini mill, since it is located near key suppliers as well as the ports from which Gerdau exports most of its production.

Gerdau’s steel manufacturing process at integrated units consists of four basic stages: preparation of raw materials, production of pig iron, production of steel and production of semi-finished steel products (billets, blooms and slabs). In the primary stage of steelmaking, sinter (a mixture of iron ore and limestone), coke and other raw materials are consumed in the blast furnace to produce pig iron. Coke acts as both fuel and a reducing agent in this process. Gerdau’s blast furnaces have aggregate installed capacity of approximately 5.6 million tonnes of molten pig iron per year.

The pig iron produced is transported by rail to the desulphurization unit to reduce the steel’s sulfur content. After the desulphurization process, the low-sulfur pig iron is transformed into steel using LD-type oxygen converters. The LD steelmaking process utilizes molten pig iron and scrap to produce steel by blowing oxygen over the metallic charge inside the converters. The process does not require any external source of energy, which is fully supplied by the chemical reactions occurring between oxygen and the impurities in the molten pig iron. The LD steelmaking process is currently the most widely used in the world. Some mills further refine the LD converters’ output with ladle furnaces and outgassing process.

Liquid steel is then sent to the continuous casting equipment, where it is solidified into billets, blooms or slabs. These products may be sold to clients directly, be transferred to other Gerdau Units for transformation or be used in the production of finished rolled steel products at the integrated units. Gerdau’s integrated units in Brazil have rolling mills for rebars, bars and profiles, wire-rod, structural shapes, hot-rolled coils and heavy plates.

Logistics

Gerdau sells its products through independent distributors, direct sales from the mills and its retail network.

Logistics costs are an important component of most steel businesses and represent a significant factor in maintaining competitive prices in the domestic and export markets. The Gerdau mills are strategically located in various different geographic regions. The Company believes that the proximity of its mills to raw material sources and important consumer markets gives it a competitive advantage in serving customers and obtaining raw materials at competitive costs. This represents an important competitive advantage in inbound and outbound logistics.

To monitor and reduce logistic costs, Gerdau uses specific solutions, directed to different types of transportation modes (road, rail, sea and cabotage), terminals, technology and equipment. Gerdau continuously seeks to improve its performance to receive raw materials, and to deliver products to its customers or ports of destination. Accordingly, Gerdau develops and maintain long-term relationships with logistic suppliers specialized in delivering raw materials and steel products. 

In 1996 Gerdau acquired an interest in MRS Logística, one of the most important rail companies in Brazil, which operates connecting the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, which are Brazil’s main economic centers, and also reaches the main ports of the country in this region. This interest assures the availability of this mode to transport raw materials (scrap and pig iron) as well as final products.

Gerdau uses a variety of ports to deliver products from the entire Brazilian coastline. Most exports are shipped from the Praia Mole Private Steel Terminal in Vitoria, Espírito Santo.

Overseas, Gerdau owns a private port terminal in Chimbote (Peru), where the Company has a steel mill, used to deliver inputs, raw material and products for the operation.

Competition

The steel market is divided into manufacturers of long steel products, flat steel products and special steel.

The Company operates in the long steel market, which is the most important market for Gerdau, by supplying to the following customer segments: (i) construction, to which it supplies rebars, merchant bars, nails and meshes; (ii) manufacturing, to which it supplies products for machinery, agricultural equipment, tools and other industrial products; and (iii) other markets, to which it supplies wires and posts for agricultural installations and reforestation projects. In North America, the Company also supplies customers with special sections, including elevator guide rails and super light beams. The Company also provides its customers with higher value-added products at rebar and wire rod fabrication facilities.

The Company operates in the flat steel market through its Ouro Branco mill that produces slabs, which are used to roll flat products such as hot and cold rolled steel coils and heavy plates. Gerdau also produces hot-rolled coils, which are sold in the domestic and export markets. The Company distributes these hot-rolled coils and also resells flat steel products manufactured by other Brazilian steel producers to which it adds further value through additional processing at its flat steel service centers.

The Company produces special and stainless steel used in tools and machinery, chains, fasteners, railroad spikes, special coil steel, grader blades, smelter bars, light rails, super light I-beams, elevator guide rails and other products that are made on demand for the Company’s customers at its special steel units in Brazil and United States.

Competitive Position — Brazil

The Brazilian steel market is very competitive. In the year ended December 31, 2019 (most recent information), ArcelorMittal Brasil and the Company were the two largest Brazilian crude steel producers, according to the Brazilian Steel Institute (IABr - Instituto Aço Brasil).

World common long rolled steel demand is met principally by steel mini mills and, to a much lesser extent, by integrated steel producers. In the Brazilian market, no single company competes against the Company across its entire product range. The Company has been facing some competition from long steel products imports, mainly coming from Turkey. The Company believes that the diversification of its products, the solution developed by its fab shops units and the decentralization of its business provide a competitive edge over its major competitors.

Intense competition exists between the Company and ArcelorMittal in the slab and wire rod markets. With respect to the rebar market, competition in the Brazilian domestic market has increased in recent years due to new competitors like Simec and Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN), which started rebar production.

Competitive Position — Outside Brazil

Gerdau’s geographic market in North America encompasses primarily the United States and Canada. The Company faces substantial competition in the sale of each of its products from numerous competitors in its markets. Rebar, merchant bars and structural shapes are commodity steel products for which pricing is the primary competitive factor. Due to the high cost of freight relative to the value of steel products, competition from non-regional producers is somewhat limited. Proximity of product inventories to customers, combined with competitive freight costs and low-cost manufacturing processes, are key to maintaining margins on rebar and merchant bar products. Rebar deliveries are generally concentrated within a 350-mile radius of the mini mills and merchant bar deliveries are generally concentrated within a 500-mile radius. Some products produced by the Selkirk, Midlothian, Jackson, Cartersville and Petersburg mini mills are shipped greater distances, including overseas. 

The Company’s principal competitors include Commercial Metals Company (CMC), Nucor Corporation, Steel Dynamics Inc. and Cleveland-Cliffs.

In South America, each country has a specific competitive position that depends on conditions in their respective markets. Most compete domestically and face significant competition from imports. More than 70% of shipments from Gerdau’s South American Operation originate from Chile, Peru and Colombia. In this market, the main barriers faced by Gerdau sales are freight and transportation costs and the availability of imports. The main products sold in the South American market are the constructions, mechanic, agriculture and mining markets.

Despite the large-scale characteristic of rebars, bars and profiles, Gerdau believes that it stands out from many of its competitors for its wide range of products, quality, consistent delivery performance and, the ability to fulfill large orders. Gerdau believes that it produces one of the most complete lines of bars and profiles. The variety of products offered by Gerdau is an important competitive advantage in a market where many customers seek to meet their needs with few key suppliers.

Business Cyclicality and Seasonality

The steel industry is highly cyclical. Consequently, the Company is exposed to fluctuations in the demand for steel goods that in turn cause fluctuations in the prices of these goods. Furthermore, since the production capacity of Brazil’s steel industry exceeds its demand, it is dependent on export markets. The demand for steel goods and consequently the financial conditions and results of operations of steel producers, including the Company, are generally affected by fluctuations in the world economy and in particular the performance of the manufacturing, construction and automotive industries. Since 2003, the good performance of the world economy, especially in developing economies, such as China, has led to strong demand for steel goods, which contributed to historically high prices for Gerdau’s steel goods. However, with the financial crisis that emerged in mid-2008, these prices have become unsupportable, especially given the expansion in world installed production capacity and the recent softening of demand. In the second quarter of 2008 and especially in early 2009, the United States and other European economies showed strong signs of a slowdown, which in turn affected many other countries. Over the past few years, developing economies have shown signs of a gradual recovery, while developed economies still present a challenging demand scenario.

In Gerdau’s Brazilian and South American operations, shipments in the second and third quarters of the year tend to be stronger than in the first and fourth quarters, given the reduction in construction activity. In Gerdau’s North American operations, demand is influenced by winter conditions, when consumption of electricity and other energy sources (i.e., natural gas) for heating increases and may be exacerbated by adverse weather conditions, contributing to increased costs and decreased construction activity, and in turn leading to lower shipments.

Information on the Extent of the Company’s Dependence

The Company is not dependent on industrial, commercial or financial agreements (including agreements with clients and suppliers) or on new production processes that are material to its business or profitability. The Company also has a policy of diversifying its suppliers, which enables it to replace suppliers without affecting its operations in the event of failure to comply with the agreements, except in the case of its energy and natural gas supply.

In addition to the government regulations that apply to its industry in general, the Company is not subject to any specific regulation that materially or adversely affect its business.

In the case of a power outage, there are no alternative supply options available at most Gerdau mills due to the high volume and tension required for the operation of these plants. Some Gerdau small plants may choose, as an alternative, to use generators to compensate for the energy shortage. Moreover, the Ouro Branco mill generates 70% of its power needs internally using gases generated in the steel-making process.

In case of a lack of natural gas, the equipment could be adjusted to use diesel and LPG.

Gerdau’s operations are spread across various geographic regions, which provides a risk diversification of any electricity or natural gas supply problems in Brazil.

The distribution of electric power and natural gas is a regulated monopoly in most countries, which leads the distributor to be the only supplier in each geographic region. In some countries, regulations allow for a choice of electrical power or natural gas commodity supplier, allowing Gerdau to diversify its supply agreement portfolio. 

Production Inputs

Price volatility

Gerdau’s production processes are based mainly on the mini mill concept, with mills equipped with electric arc furnaces that can melt ferrous scrap and produce steel products at the required specifications. The main raw material used at these mills is ferrous scrap, which at some plants is blended with pig iron. The component proportions of this mixture may change in accordance with prices and availability in order to optimize raw material costs. Iron, iron ore (used in blast furnaces) and ferroalloys are also important.

Although international ferrous scrap prices suffer high influence by the U.S. domestic market (since the United States is the largest scrap exporter), the price of ferrous scrap in Brazil varies from region to region and is influenced by demand and transportation costs.

Brazil and Special Steel Business Segments — The Company’s Brazilian mills use scrap and pig iron purchased from local suppliers. Due to the nature of the raw materials used in its processes, Gerdau has contracts with scrap generators, especially scrap from industrial sources, for its mini mills in Brazil, acquiring scrap as necessary for the mills’ needs. Scrap for the Brazilian Operation is priced in Brazilian reais, thus input prices are not directly affected by currency fluctuations.

Due to its size, the Ouro Branco mill has developed over the last few years a strategy to diversify its raw materials, which are supplied through various types of contracts and from multiple sources, which include: (i) coking coals imported from Colombia, United States, Canada, Russia, Australia and Peru as well as petroleum coke purchased from Petrobrás and charcoal chaff also acquired from other domestic suppliers; (ii) ferroalloys, of which 80.4% are purchased in the domestic market; and (iii) iron ore, which is mainly produced from its own mines and partially supplied by mining companies, most of them strategically located close to the plant.

North America Business Segment — The main input used by the Company’s mills in North America is ferrous scrap, and has consistently obtained adequate supplies of raw materials, not depending on a smaller number of suppliers. Due to the fact that the United States are one of the largest scrap exporters in the world, the prices of this raw-material, in this country, may fluctuate according to supply and demand in the world’s scrap market.

South America Business Segment — The main input used by the Company’s mills in South America is ferrous scrap. This operation is exposed to market fluctuations, varying its prices according to each local market.

Ferrous Scrap

There are two broad categories of ferrous scrap: (i) obsolete scrap, which is steel from various sources, ranging from cans to car bodies and white goods; and (ii) industrial scrap, which is composed of scrap from manufacturing processes, essentially steel bushings and flashings, steel turnings and even scrap generated by production processes at steel producers, such as Gerdau. In Brazil, the use of scrap in electric arc furnaces varies between scrap from obsolescence and industrial scrap. Special Steel mills mainly use industrial scrap.

Because ferrous scrap is one of its main raw materials in steel production, Gerdau is dedicated to improving its supply chain in various countries, aiming to develop and integrate micro and small suppliers into the Company’s business. In Brazil, the main part of the scrap consumed by the Company comes from small scrap collectors who sell all their material to Gerdau, which provides a direct supply at more competitive costs for the Company. In North America, although smaller, the number is still significant, ensuring the competitiveness of the business in the region.

Brazil and Special Steel Business Segments — The price of steel scrap in Brazil varies by region and reflects local supply, demand and transportation costs. The Southeast is the country’s most industrialized region and generates the highest volume of scrap. Due to the high concentration of players in this region, competition is more intense.

Gerdau has six scrap shredders, including a mega-shredder at the Cosigua mill in Rio de Janeiro, with capacity to process scrap in volumes superior to 200 carcasses of vehicles per hour.

North America Business Segment — Ferrous scrap is the main raw material. The availability of this input varies according to the level of economic activity, seasonality, export levels, climatic conditions and price fluctuations. Twelve units in the North America Business Segment have facilities for processing scrap within the mills, including crushers that supply much of their scrap demand. Considering that not all the scrap consumed comes from their yards, the rest of the demand is guaranteed through direct acquisitions or via resellers who originate and prepare the scrap. 

In North America, all production units are semi-integrated mills or mini mills, in which results of operations are closely related to the cost of ferrous scrap and its substitutes, which are the main input of mini mills. Ferrous scrap prices are relatively higher during the winter months in the north hemisphere due to the impact of climate on collection and supply. More than half of North America’s products are currently produced in electric arc furnaces with the use of ferrous scrap. Prices of ferrous scrap are subject to market forces beyond the Company’s control, including demand from the United States and international steel producers, freight costs and speculation.

South America Business Segment — The price of scrap in South America varies widely from country to country in accordance with supply, demand and transportation cost.

Pig Iron and Sponge Iron

Brazil Business Segment — Brazil is an exporter of pig iron. Most of Brazil’s pig iron is produced in the state of Minas Gerais by a number of small producers. Pig iron is a drop-in substitute for scrap and in Brazil it is an important component of the metal mix used to make steel in the mills. The price of pig iron follows domestic and international demand, and its cost production is basically composed by reducers and minerals.

North America Business Segment — The availability of scrap plays an important role for operations in North America. Sponge iron and pig iron are used in limited quantities only to produce steels with particular characteristics.

Iron Ore

Iron ore is the main input used to produce pig iron at Gerdau’s blast furnace mills located in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The pig iron is used in the melt shops together with scrap, to produce steel.

Iron ore is purchased in its natural form as lump ore, pellet feed or sinter feed, or agglomerated as pellets. The lump ore and pellets are loaded directly into the blast furnace, while the sinter feed and pellet feed need to be agglomerated in the sinter plant and then loaded into the blast furnace, to produce pig iron. The production of 1.0 tonne of pig iron requires about 1.6 tonnes of iron ore.

Iron ore consumption in Gerdau mills in Brazil amounted to 5.8 million tonnes in 2020, partially supplied by mining companies adjacent to the steel plants and partially supplied by Gerdau’s mines.

Other Inputs

In addition to scrap, pig iron, sponge iron and iron ore, Gerdau’s operations use other inputs to produce steel such as ferroalloys, electrodes, furnace refracting materials, oxygen, nitrogen and other industrial gases and limestone, albeit in smaller amounts. Additional inputs associated with the production of pig iron are thermal-reducer, which is used in blast furnace mills, and natural gas, which is used at the DRI unit.

The Ouro Branco mill’s significant raw materials and inputs also include solid fuels, comprising the metallurgical coal, used in the production of coke and also for the blast furnace pulverized injecting, this last one providing increase in productivity and consequently reduction in the final cost of pig iron. Besides the metallurgical coal, the Company also uses the anthracite, solid fuel used in the production of sinter. The gas resulting from the production of coke and pig iron are reused for generation of thermal energy that can be converted in electric energy for the mill.

The North American operations also use additional inputs. Various domestic and foreign companies supply other important raw materials or operating supplies required for the business, including refractory materials, ferroalloys and graphite electrodes that are available in the national and international market. Gerdau North America Business Segment has obtained adequate quantities of these raw materials and supplies at competitive market prices. The Company is not dependent on any one supplier as a source for any particular material and believes there are adequate alternative suppliers available in the marketplace if the need to replace an existing one arises. 

Energy Requirements

Steel production is a process that consumes large amounts of electricity, especially in electric arc mills. Electricity represents an important role in the production process, along with natural gas, which is used mainly in furnaces to re-heat billets in rolled steel production.

In Brazil, electricity is currently supplied to the Company’s industrial units under two types of contracts:

The Company holds the following power generation concession in Brazil:

The terms of the aforementioned generation concession agreements are for 35 years as of the signature of the agreement. As such: UHE Dona Francisca expires in 2033.

The supply of natural gas to all Brazilian units is regulated and performed under long-term contracts. The Barão de Cocais and Divinópolis units do not have access to natural gas supplies.

In the United States, there are essentially two types of electricity markets: regulated and deregulated. In the regulated market, contracts are approved by Public Utility commissions and are subject to an approved rate of return. These regulated tariffs are specific to local distributors and generally reflect the average fuel costs of the distributor. In deregulated markets, the price of electricity is set by the marginal resource and fluctuates with demand. Natural gas in the United States is completely deregulated. The U.S. energy market is benefiting from the increased exploration of shale gas, which is driving down prices of both electricity and natural gas.

In Uruguay, electricity is purchased under agreements that are renewed automatically on an annual basis from the state-owned utility UTE. Natural gas is purchased from Montevideo Gas with prices set by the Argentinean export tariff agreement (fuel oil as substitute). During 2018, the plant operated mostly on fuel oil, due to competitive reasons.

In Peru, the Company has a current electricity contract until December 2025. The plant receives CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) by trucks and then is decompressed and distributed through internal pipeline to production processes.

Argentina uses natural gas (liquefied petroleum gas) as a substitute. The natural gas purchase agreement was renewed for another year. In 2008, Gerdau Sipar entered into a long-term agreement to supply the new mill’s power requirements.

In Mexico, electricity is purchased under agreements regulated by the state-owned utility Companía Federal de Electricidad (CFE) and bilateral contracts with private companies. The natural gas agreements are annually and automatically renewed. Electricity and natural gas prices are indexed and adjusted monthly based on the NYMEX prices indices. 

Technology and Quality Management

All Gerdau mills have a Quality Management System supported by a wide array of quality control tools. Product development projects are headed by specialists who use quality tools such as “Six Sigma”, a set of statistical methods for improving the assessment of process variables, and the concept of “Quality Function Deployment”, a methodology through which technicians can identify and implement the customer requirements.

Given this level of quality management, mills are ISO 9001 or ISO TS 16949 certified, and certain products receive laboratory certification as required. In general, production, technical services and quality teams are responsible for developing new products to meet customer and market needs.

Gerdau uses a Quality Management System developed in house that applies tests for product design, manufacturing processes and final-product specifications. A specially trained team and modern technologies also exist to assure the manufactured product high standards of quality. Gerdau’s technical specialists do planned visits, some are randomly selected, and some are scheduled visits, to its customers to check on the quality of the delivered products in order to guarantee the final user satisfaction for products purchased indirectly.

Due to the specialized nature of its business, the Gerdau special steel mills are constantly investing in technological upgrading and in research and development. These mills are active in the automotive segment and maintain a technology department (Research and Development) responsible for new products and the optimization of existing processes.

International machinery manufacturers and steel technology companies supply most of the sophisticated production equipment that Gerdau uses. These suppliers generally sign technology transfer agreements with the purchaser and provide extensive technical support and staff training for the installation and commissioning of the equipment. Gerdau has technology transfer and benchmarking agreements with worldwide recognized performance companies.

As is common with mini mill steelmakers, Gerdau usually acquires technology in the market rather than develops new technology through intensive process research and development, since steelmaking technology is readily available for purchase.

The Company is not dependent on patents or licenses or new manufacturing processes that are material to its business. See item “Information on the Extent of the Company’s Dependence” for further details.

Sales Terms and Credit Policy

The Company’s Brazilian sales are usually made on a 21/28-day settlement CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) basis. Comercial Gerdau, the retail arm of Gerdau in Brazil, sells on an approximately 34 day settlement basis, mainly CIF. Brazilian customers are subject to a credit approval process. The concession of credit limits is controlled by a corporate-level system (ECC) that can be accessed by all sales channels. The credit and collection department is responsible for evaluating, determining and monitoring credit in accordance with the credit limit policy. This policy includes the active participation of staff from the various sales channels. At Comercial Gerdau, in particular, the criteria for retail sales also include practices such as the use of credit card services. Gerdau exports are guaranteed via letters of credit and/or pre-payment before the product is shipped. Exports to Gerdau’s subsidiaries may be sold on credit at market interest rates.

Gerdau North American credit terms to customers are generally based on customary market conditions and practices. The Company´s North American business is seasonal, with orders in the second and third quarters tending to be stronger than those in the first and fourth quarters, primarily due to weather-related slowdowns in the construction industry.

The Company´s Special Steel operations in the United States and Brazil have their own credit departments for customer’ credit analysis.

The Company’s impairment loss on financial assets has been at low levels. On December 31, 2020, provision for expected credit losses was 3.5% based on gross account receivables per Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, compared to the same 3.5% on December 31, 2019 and 4.7% on December 31, 2018. Gerdau has improved its credit approval controls and enhanced the reliability of its sales process through the use of risk indicators and internal controls. 

Insurance

The Company maintains insurance coverage in amounts that it believes suitable to cover the main risks of its operating activities. The Company has purchased insurance for its integrated mill Ouro Branco to insure against operating losses, which covers assets of approximately US$ 5.2 billion (R$ 27 billion as of December 31, 2020), including material damage to installations of US$ 4.6 billion (R$ 23.9 billion as of December 31, 2020) and losses of gross revenues of US$ 639 million (R$ 3.3 billion as of December 31, 2020), such as halts in production due to business interruptions caused by accidents for a period up to twelve months. The Company’s current insurance policy relating to the Ouro Branco mill remains effective until April 30, 2020. The Company’s mini mills are also covered under insurance policies which insure against certain operational losses resulting from business interruptions.

Trade Investigations and Government Protectionism

Over the past several years, exports of steel products from various companies and countries, including Brazil, have been subject to antidumping, countervailing duties and other trade-related investigations in importing countries. Most of these investigations resulted in duties limiting the investigated companies’ ability to access such import markets. Until now, however, these investigations have not had a significant impact on the Company’s export volumes.

Material effects of government regulation on the Company’s activities

The Company’s steel production activities are not subject to special authorizations other than the licenses and permits typical to the industry. The Company maintains a good relationship with the government agencies responsible for issuing common authorizations and does not have any history of problems in obtaining them.

Gerdau’s mining operation in Brazil are subject to the rules of the Brazilian Mining Code and its regulation (Decree-Law 227, of February 28, 1967 and Decree 9,406, of June 12, 2018) and to the applicable mining legislation, with mining exploration governed by Mining Property Rights and Concessions.

Gerdau acquired the surface of the properties located in the polygon of the respective mining rights, as well as all other Mining Property Rights and Concessions, under an Agreement for the Sale of Assets and Assignment of Rights entered into by and between Gerdau Açominas S.A. and Companhia Paraibunas de Metais, Siderúrgica Barra Mansa S.A., Votorantim Metais Ltda., and Votorantim International Holding N.V., on May 19, 2004.

The Company’s mining exploration activities are subject to the conditions and limitations imposed by the Federal Constitution of Brazil, the Brazilian Mining Code and related laws and regulations, which include requirements connected to, among other factors, how mineral deposits are used, occupational safety and health, environmental protection and restoration, pollution prevention and the health and safety of the local communities where the mines are located. The Brazilian Mining Code also establishes some requirements for the submission of notifications and information.

Companies authorized to economically explore mineral resources are required to pay royalties to the Federal Government, which distributes most of them to States and Municipalities. On July 26, 2017, Provisional Presidential Decree 789/17 was published, which was later converted into Federal Law 13,540/17, amending Federal Laws 7,990/89 and 8,001/90, which provide for the Financial Compensation for Exploration of Mineral Resources (CFEM). The structure for the charging of royalties was changed to the following:

1) TRIGGERING EVENT: the exploration of mineral resources will trigger the payment of CFEM upon:

2) CALCULATION BASE

Financial compensation (CFEM) may or may not have to be paid on sales among companies of the same business group; Federal Law 13,540/17 does not establish any criteria for such.

For mineral assets shipped to another establishment of the same owner, for subsequent sale, even if subject to processing, the calculation base is the price charged in the final sale.

3) RATES: effective 11/1/2017

Rates of mineral substances:

For iron ore, the rate is fixed at 3.5%. In this case, upon a justified need, the regulatory entity of the mining sector could exceptionally reduce the iron compensation rate from 3.5% to as low as 2% in order to not adversely affect the economic feasibility of deposits with low performance and profitability due to the iron content, production scale, payment of taxes and number of employees.

On December 26, 2017, Federal Law 13,575 was sanctioned, which created the National Mining Agency (ANM), eliminated the National Department of Mineral Production (DNPM), amended federal laws 11,046 of December 27, 2004, and 10,826 of December 22, 2003, and revoked Federal Law 8,876 of May 2, 1994, and the provisions of Decree-Law 227 of February 28, 1967 (Mining code). This law derives from Provisional Presidential Decree 791/2017 issued by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and submitted to the joint commission of the Senate in mid-2017 for approval. The wording of the federal law was published in the federal register Diário Oficial da União (DOU) on December 27, 2017, Issue: 247, Section 1, Pages 1 to 4.

It eliminates the National Department of Mineral Production (DNPM) and creates the National Mining Agency (ANM), a government agency linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy responsible for promoting mineral exploration and developing the industry. 

The Rate for Inspection of Mining Activities (TFAM), which the Executive Branch intended to create along with ANM, was not approved by the National Congress.

Gerdau holds environmental licenses for commercial operation of the mines located in the cities of Miguel Burnier, Várzea do Lopes and Gongo Soco in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.

The mining rights held by Gerdau cover 8,837.19 hectares, and the concessions are valid until the mining deposits are exhausted, provided the legal requirements are fulfilled annually. The table below lists the DNPM processes referring to the mining rights held by Gerdau:

The Company’s operational structure (including its main operating subsidiaries engaged in steel production) on December 31, 2020 is below:

The table below lists the significant consolidated subsidiaries of Gerdau on December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:

(*) The voting capital is substantially equal to the total capital. The interests reported represent the ownership percentage held directly and indirectly in the subsidiary.

(**) The percentage of participation including interest of the parent company Metalúrgica Gerdau S.A. in the investment fund is 92.58% in 2020, 98.07% in 2019 and 98.60% in 2018.

(1) Subsidiaries: Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc., Chaparral Steel Company.

(2) Subsidiary: Gerdau Açominas Overseas Ltd., G2L Logistica Ltda.

(3) Subsidiary: Gerdau MacSteel Inc.

(4) Fixed-income investment fund managed by Bank JP Morgan S.A.

(5) Subsidiary: Sidertul S.A. de C.V. and GTL Servicios Administrativos México, S.A. de C.V..

(6) Subsidiary: Siderco S.A. 

The Company’s investments in Bradley Steel Processor and MRM Guide Rail in North America, in which Gerdau Ameristeel holds a 50% stake in the total capital, the investments in Gerdau Metaldom Corp. in the Dominican Republic in which the Company owns a 50% stake, the investment in Gerdau Corsa S.A.P.I. de CV in Mexico, in which Gerdau has a 70% stake, the investment in Dona Francisca Energética S.A, in Brazil, in which the Company holds a 51.82%, investment in Gerdau Summit Aços Fundidos e Forjados S.A., in Brazil, in which Gerdau has a 58.73% stake, the investment in Diaco S.A. in Colombia, which Gerdau has a 49.86%, and the investment in Juntos Somos Mais Fidelização S.A., in Brazil, in which Gerdau has a 27.50% stake are accounted in the Company’s financial statements using the equity method (for further information, see Note 3 — Consolidated Financial Statements).

The operating companies that are fully consolidated or accounted according to the equity method in the financial statements of Gerdau S.A. are described below:

Gerdau Aços Longos S.A. — This company produces common long steel and has nine mills distributed throughout Brazil and an annual installed capacity of 4.7 million tonnes of crude steel. This company also sells general steel products and has steel distribution centers located throughout Brazil.

Gerdau Açominas S.A. — Gerdau Açominas owns the mill located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Ouro Branco mill is Gerdau’s largest unit, with an annual installed capacity of 4.5 million tonnes of crude steel, accounting for 48.8% of Gerdau’s crude steel output in the Brazil Business Segment.

Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation — Gerdau Ameristeel has an annual capacity of 7.4 million tonnes of crude steel and 5.3 million tonnes of rolled products. The company is one of the largest producers of long steel in North America.

Gerdau MacSteel Inc. — This company is the largest special steel producer in U.S., has three units and a combined annual production capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of crude steel and 1.5 million tonnes of rolled products.

Gerdau Laisa S.A. — In 1980, the Company acquired the Laisa mini mill in Uruguay. Gerdau Laisa is the one of largest long steel producers in Uruguay and has annual installed capacity of 100,000 tonnes of crude steel and 90,000 tonnes of rolled products.

Sipar Gerdau Inversiones S.A. — Sipar Gerdau Inversiones, through its operational subsidiary Sipar Aceros S.A., entered the Argentinean market in December 1997 and has annual installed capacity of 650,000 tonnes of crude steel and 263,000 tonnes of rolled products.

Empresa Siderúrgica del Perú S.A.A. — Acquired in 2006, this company is a long steel producer with annual installed capacity of 720,000 tonnes of crude steel and 573,000 tonnes of rolled steel.

Gerdau GTL México, S.A. de C.V. — The subsidiary of this company is a long steel producer located in the metropolitan area of Mexico City with annual installed capacity of 500,000 tonnes of crude steel and 400,000 tonnes of rolled products.

Sizuca - Siderúrgica Zuliana, C. A. — In June 2007, Gerdau acquired Sizuca - Siderúrgica Zuliana, which is located in Ciudad Ojeda, Venezuela. Sizuca owns a mini mill that produces concrete reinforcement bars. Sizuca has an annual installed capacity of 250,000 tonnes of crude steel and 170,000 tonnes of rolled products.

Multisteel Business Holdings — In 2014, the Company completed the merger of its associate Multisteel Business Holdings Corp. with the Dominican company Metaldom, originating the joint venture Gerdau Metaldom Corp., which will produce long and flat steel for the areas of civil construction, industrial and agricultural, and also scrap processing operations and PVC pipes, with over one million tonnes/year of installed capacity. As a result of the merger, the Company has contributed its interest of 79.97% on the associate Multisteel Business Holdings Corp. into the newly formed entity Gerdau Metaldom, in exchange of 50% interest on Gerdau Metaldom Corp. This transaction was recorded on fair value basis, which was substantially equivalent to the book value of the previous investment.

Gerdau Summit Aços Fundidos e Forjados S.A. — Gerdau Summit Aços Fundidos e Forjados S.A. - On January 5, 2017, the Gerdau S.A. subscribed capital stock in Gerdau Summit Aços Fundidos e Forjados S.A. through the contribution of some of its assets and liabilities, which were valued by specialized independent evaluation firm. Gerdau Summit Aços Fundidos e Forjados S.A. have accounting treatment of a joint venture in the Financial Statements of Gerdau S.A., with a 58.73% interest.

Diaco S.A. — On June 30, 2017, the Company concluded the operation to create a joint venture, based on the sale of 50% interest in Diaco S.A., in Colombia, to Putney Capital Management. The new company’s assets are Gerdau’s long-steel industrial units in Colombia, with an annual installed steel capacity of 674 thousand tonnes. Due to this transaction, Diaco started to have accounting treatment of joint venture in Consolidated Financial Statements with a 49.86% interest.

D.            PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Facilities

Gerdau’s principal properties are for the production of steel, rolled products and drawn products. The following is a list of the locations, capacities and types of facilities, as well as the types of products manufactured at December 31, 2020: