Gerdau tops Valor 1000 steel ranking; Brazil sales dip 4% in H1 2026

Gerdau was named champion of the Metallurgy and Steel sector in the 2026 Valor 1000 ranking, an annual survey of Brazil's largest companies. The company's Brazilian operation sold 2.67 million tons of crude steel in H1 2026, down 4% year-on-year, with net revenue of R$ 12.96 billion and gross profit of R$ 547 million. The ranking is a recognition of financial performance, but the sales decline signals softer domestic demand, while North American operations may provide offsetting strength.