- Business
- Gerdau S.A. is a leading global steel producer specializing in the manufacture and commercialization of a broad range of steel products. The company's core products include long steel products such as rebar, wire rods, merchant bars, various structural shapes, hot-rolled coils and heavy plates; special steel items including alloy and carbon steels designed for automotive and industrial machinery applications; flat steel products for shipbuilding, energy, and equipment manufacturing; and essential raw materials like iron ore sourced from its own mines in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Beyond steel production, Gerdau operates in sectors including construction, automotive, machinery, shipbuilding, and energy. The company leverages electric arc furnace technology to recycle scrap metal, producing around 13 million tons of steel annually. Founded in 1901 and headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, Gerdau operates across the Americas with facilities in Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the United States, Uruguay, and Peru.
In recent developments, Gerdau has strategically expanded its portfolio and operations. In 2024, it launched Gerdau Next, a new business segment focused on construction, logistics, infrastructure, renewable energy, and startup investments. The company is investing in clean and renewable energy projects, including photovoltaic parks in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and Midlothian, Texas, U.S. It also formed Gerdau Graphene in partnership with the University of Manchester to develop graphene-based industrial products. Gerdau completed the acquisition of Dale's Recycling, an auto scrap recycling company in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Missouri, in September 2024 and acquired minority interests in Gerdau Summit from Sumitomo Corporation and Japan Steel Works in 2025. The company concluded a share buyback program in 2024 and approved a new program in 2025, underscoring financial robustness. Operationally, Gerdau has optimized competitiveness by hibernating certain lower-efficiency plants and is progressing CIP projects, including expanding iron ore production capacity, with completion targeted in 2025-2026.
Gerdau remains committed to sustainability and innovation, demonstrated by its leading use of recycled scrap (which accounts for 73% of its steel production) and its advancement in renewable energy self-production to reduce carbon emissions. The company’s 2025 CAPEX plan focuses on modernization, operational competitiveness across Brazil and North America, and environmental enhancements. Gerdau is the largest long steel producer in the Americas and recognized as the only steel industry with B Certification at its SIDERPERU operation, reflecting its adherence to high social and environmental standards. Its comprehensive product portfolio, geographic footprint, and recent strategic initiatives firmly position Gerdau as a major player in the global steel industry.
This description reflects the company's product range, strategic moves, financial activities, geographic operations, founding history, and commitment to sustainability and innovation as of late 2025.