Gerdau
Gerdau is Brazil's largest steel producer, operating 29 production units across the Americas and manufacturing long, flat, and specialty steels for construction, automotive, energy, and industrial customers via EAF technology, captive mining, and renewable energy assets.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1903
- HeadquartersSão Paulo, Brazil
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Gerdau does
Gerdau is the largest steel producer in Brazil and one of the leading long steel manufacturers in the Americas, with a 120+ year operating history dating to its 1903 founding in Porto Alegre. The company operates 29 steel production units globally — 13 in North America (United States and Canada) through its Gerdau Ameristeel subsidiary, and the remainder across Brazil and South America (Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay). Its core technology platform is the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking method, particularly dominant in North America, used to produce long steel products (rebar CA-50/CA-60/CA-70, wire rod, structural profiles), flat steel (hot-rolled coils and plates), and specialty bar quality (SBQ) steels for automotive and industrial applications.
Gerdau generates revenue primarily through direct sales of bulk steel products to industrial customers across six primary segments: non-residential construction (including U.S. semiconductor plant construction and CHIPS Act-related infrastructure), automotive (via IATF 16949-certified Special Steels facilities in Pindamonhangaba, Mogi das Cruzes, and Charqueadas), energy infrastructure (wind, solar, hydro, transmission), civil construction, agribusiness, and naval shipbuilding (certified by BV, LR, ABS, DNV). Distribution occurs through enterprise field sales, regional distributors and service centers, and the Gerdau Mais digital platform offering catalogs, BIM libraries, and online quotation. Pricing is quote-based, negotiated per contract, and not publicly disclosed per unit.
The company operates a vertically integrated model with captive iron ore mining (Miguel Burnier project, 94% complete in Q1 2026), hydroelectric generation (Dona Francisca 125 MW plant, 76.97% owned post-2026 stake increase), and solar generation (Barro Alto ~111 MWm complex). Gerdau also launched Gerdau NewEco in 2025, a low-carbon steel line, and obtained its first BNDES green loan in 2025. Listed on B3, NYSE (ticker GGB), and Madrid's Latibex, the company completed an R$1.0 billion share buyback in 2025 and authorized a new R$1.2 billion program, with 2026 CapEx guided at R$4.7 billion (24% reduction from 2025) as the heavy investment cycle winds down and the focus shifts toward free cash flow generation.
Gerdau firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gerdau
- Legal name
- GERDAU S/A
- Website
- https://www2.gerdau.com.br
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1903
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Gerdau is Brazil's largest steel producer, operating 29 production units across the Americas and manufacturing long, flat, and specialty steels for construction, automotive, energy, and industrial customers via EAF technology, captive mining, and renewable energy assets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gerdau industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Steel Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing (3311), Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing (33111)
- SIC
- Steel Works, Blast Furnaces & Rolling & Finishing Mills (3310), Steel Works, Blast Furnaces & Rolling Mills (Coke Ovens) (3312)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Integrated Steelmaking (BF-BOF) (IMAKABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialty & Alloy Steel (Stainless, Tool Steel, Electrical Steel, High-Strength/HSLA) (IMAKABAJ), Steel Service Centers & Processing (Slitting, Cut-to-Length, Blanking, Leveling) (IMAKABAL)
Keywords
Where Gerdau is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- São Paulo
- HQ country
- Brazil
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Gerdau business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Steel Manufacturing and Sales: Gerdau generates the vast majority of revenue through manufacturing and selling a broad range of steel products including long steel (rebar, wire rod, structural profiles), flat steel, and special bar quality (SBQ) steels. Revenue is derived from both domestic Brazilian operations and North American subsidiaries (Gerdau Ameristeel). The company sells directly to distributors, construction firms, automotive OEMs, energy sector players, and industrial manufacturers.
- Energy Generation and Ownership: Gerdau generates incremental revenue and cost savings through direct ownership of hydroelectric power assets, including the 125 MW Dona Francisca hydropower plant on the Jacuí River in Brazil, increasing its firm energy allocation to approximately 50 average MW. This reduces energy cost volatility and exposure to spot electricity prices.
- Green Finance: Gerdau obtained its first green loan from BNDES (Brazil's national development bank), representing a new financing instrument tied to sustainability objectives and potentially lower cost of capital for green projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Steel products are priced based on product type, volume, contract terms, and market conditions rather than standardized SaaS-like tiers. |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Gerdau product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gerdau manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of steel products — including long steel (rebar CA-50/CA-60/CA-70, wire rod, merchant bar, structural profiles), flat steel (hot-rolled coils, plates), and special bar quality (SBQ) steels — to construction, automotive, energy, agribusiness, naval, and industrial machinery customers across the Americas. The company operates 29 steel production units, supports captive iron ore mining (Miguel Burnier), and generates renewable energy (Dona Francisca hydro and Barro Alto solar) to power its steelmaking operations, with sales conducted through direct enterprise sales, regional distributors, and the Gerdau mais digital platform.
Product overview
Gerdau operates as Brazil's largest steel producer and one of South America's leading long steel manufacturers. The company's product portfolio is organized into two main categories: Long Steel (including rebars CA-50, CA-60, CA-70, wire rod, profiles, and structural shapes) and Flat Steel (hot-rolled coils, plates, and specialty flat products). Gerdau's operations span from iron ore mining through steel production to value-added fabrication, supported by subsidiaries including Gerdau Ameristeel (North America), Gerdau Açonorte, Gerdau Cosigua, Gerdau Ouro Branco, Gerdau Pindamonhangaba (Special Steels), and Gerdau Charqueadas. The company serves diverse end-markets including construction, automotive, agricultural, energy (renewable and traditional), machinery, naval, and industrial sectors through its Gerdau mais digital platform for customer engagement and technical support. Gerdau also offers scrap metal recycling services through its Portal Metálicos and maintains energy generation assets including the Dona Francisca hydropower plant and the Barro Alto Solar Complex.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gerdau Custom: Automotive steel product line
- Gerdau Max Cleanity
- Gerdau Max Hiductility
- Gerdau Max Machinity
- Gerdau Standard
- Gerdau Tech Ecomachining
- Gerdau Tech Induheat
- Gerdau mais
Products and services
- Gerdau Rebars (CA-50, CA-60, CA-70) Reinforcement steel bars (vergalhões) in grades CA-50, CA-60, and CA-70 used for reinforced concrete construction across civil construction and infrastructure projects in Brazil. Available in fine, medium, thick, and extra-thick series.
- Hot-Rolled Steel Products Hot-rolled steel coils, plates, and sheets for construction, industrial, and manufacturing applications, produced on Gerdau's US$260 million hot-rolled line in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Structural Steel Profiles (Perfis) Structural steel profiles and shapes for construction, infrastructure, and industrial applications. Certified under CE Marking (0343 CPR 20060008 A) and UKCA standards.
- Wire Rod and Merchant Bar Long steel products including wire rod for drawing and re-rolling, and merchant bar for construction and industrial uses across the Americas.
- Construction Solutions (Telas and Treliças) Prefabricated construction reinforcement solutions including welded wire mesh (telas) and trusses (treliças) for foundations and containment structures.
- Gerdau Special Steels (Aços Especiais) Specialty steel products manufactured at Pindamonhangaba, Mogi das Cruzes, and Charqueadas facilities, IATF 16949 certified for automotive quality plus ISO 9001/14001 standards, for automotive, machinery, and industrial applications.
- Gerdau Custom (Automotive Steels) Customized steel solutions tailored to specific automotive manufacturing requirements for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.
- Gerdau Max (Machinity, Hiductility, Cleanity) Advanced automotive steel product line with three variants: Machinity (machinability-optimized steel), Hiductility (hydroforming-grade high-ductility steel), and Cleanity (clean surface steel).
- Gerdau Tech (Ecomachining, Induheat) Technology-enhanced automotive steel products including Ecomachining (optimized for machining efficiency) and Induheat (designed for induction hardening applications).
- Gerdau Standard (Automotive Steels) Standard automotive steel products for general automotive applications with consistent quality and performance for OEM and Tier 1 customers.
- Naval Steel Products Hull steel plates, sections, semi-finished products, and welding consumables for shipbuilding, certified by Bureau Veritas (BV), Lloyd's Register (LR), American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and DNV for marine vessel construction.
- Energy Sector Steel Steel products for wind, solar, hydro, and thermal power generation infrastructure, including wind turbine towers, solar panel structures, transmission components, and special steels for oil & gas applications.
- Gerdau NewEco Low-Carbon Steel Low-carbon steel product line launched by Gerdau to offer green steel alternatives and decarbonization solutions for sustainability-focused construction and manufacturing customers.
- Gerdau mais Digital Business Platform Digital B2B platform offering customers catalogs, BIM libraries, technical content, blogs, online quotation, and customer relationship management for Gerdau's steel products.
Quantifiable outcome
- Q1 2026 EBITDA grew 25% sequentially to R$3.0 billion with 18% EBITDA margin, driven by North American strength.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Gerdau
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Gerdau technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
Feature4 records
Gerdau partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CelesccoreCelesc sold a 23.03% stake in Dona Francisca Energética S.A. (DFESA) to Gerdau for R$150 million enterprise value, increasing Gerdau's ownership to 76.97%. The transaction involves the 125 MW Dona Francisca hydropower plant on the Jacuí River, enhancing Gerdau's firm energy allocation from ~35.6 MW to ~50 MW.
- Vale SAcoreVale and Gerdau are participating as a consortium in the second round of bidding to acquire Porto Sudeste, a $5B iron ore port in Rio de Janeiro owned by Trafigura Group and Mubadala Capital. Porto Sudeste shipped a record 27.8 million tonnes of iron ore in 2025 against approximately 50 million tonnes capacity. This partnership combines Vale's iron ore production leadership with Gerdau's steelmaking presence for potential integrated logistics control.
- M ResourcesminorBrisbane-based logistics company M Resources joined the Vale-Gerdau consortium advancing to the second round of bidding for the Porto Sudeste port acquisition. M Resources contributes logistics expertise to the consortium's port bidding strategy.
- Sistema B InternationalminorGerdau participated as a certified B Company in the Encuentro+B Amazônia 2025 summit, aligning with Sistema B's more stringent certification standards requiring holistic impact management across climate action, human rights, and fair labor.
- Gerando FalcõesminorGerdau partnered with Gerando Falcões in creating an open housing fund for Rio Grande do Sul reconstruction, with Gerdau contributing R$5 million. The fund is also open to other corporate contributors including XP and BTG, managed under the Regenera RS initiative.
- Vale SAcoreVale partnered with Gerdau to structure the Regenera RS fund for Rio Grande do Sul reconstruction, contributing alongside Gerdau and Instituto Helga Gerdau. The fund targets R$100 million in total contributions and is managed by Din4mo, an impact investment entity.
- Instituto Helga GerdaucoreGerdau's family foundation (Instituto Helga Gerdau) co-structured the Regenera RS philanthropic fund with Vale for Rio Grande do Sul reconstruction, providing governance and social impact expertise.
- ACNUR (UNHCR)minorGerdau partnered with UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) to provide temporary housing (individual/family shelters) for displaced populations in Rio Grande do Sul, channeling part of its R$5 million housing fund commitment.
- Brasil ao CubominorGerdau partnered with Brasil ao Cubo for the execution of rebuilding the Municipal School Liberato Salzano in Porto Alegre, with a Gerdau investment of R$5 million, in collaboration with Ambev.
- Din4mominorDin4mo, a specialized impact investment entity, was selected to manage the Regenera RS reconstruction fund co-created by Gerdau and Vale, providing governance, project evaluation, and impact measurement services.
- AmbevminorAmbev co-sponsored the reconstruction of the Municipal School Liberato Salzano in Porto Alegre with Gerdau and Brasil ao Cubo, contributing to the education reconstruction pillar of Rio Grande do Sul relief efforts.
- Randon Corp.minorGerdau partnered with Randon Corp. to donate steel and rebuild 10 bridges in the Serra Gaúcha region of Rio Grande do Sul, leveraging Randon's logistics and automotive sector expertise.
- Corsan (Aegea)minorGerdau partnered with Corsan (now part of Aegea) to install a temporary Mobile Water Treatment Plant on the Gerdau Riograndense property in Sapucaia do Sul, providing water to surrounding communities with a capacity of 20 liters per second (1.7 million liters per day).
- FIERGS (Federação das Indústrias do RS)minorGerdau contributed to Social Banks of FIERGS as part of Rio Grande do Sul reconstruction, channeling employee and company-matched donations to support local industry recovery.
Scale indicators21 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Gerdau competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ArcelorMittal: World's largest integrated steelmaker with significant operations in Brazil (ArcelorMittal Brasil) and across the Americas. Directly comparable as a global long and flat steel producer serving automotive, construction, and industrial customers.
- Nucor: Largest US EAF-based steel producer focused on long products, structural steel, rebar, and sheet steel. Closest direct comparable for Gerdau's North American EAF footprint and end-market mix including construction and automotive.
- Steel Dynamics: US-based EAF steelmaker producing flat-rolled steel, structural, rebar, and engineered bar products. Highly comparable to Gerdau's North American operations in technology (EAF) and product portfolio (long steel, SBQ).
- United States Steel Corporation: Integrated and EAF steelmaker with significant US flat-rolled and tubular products exposure. Competes head-to-head in North American non-residential construction and automotive end markets that drive Gerdau Ameristeel's volumes.
- Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN): Brazil's largest integrated flat steel producer and a domestic competitor for Gerdau in rebar, construction steel, and distribution. Comparable scale, geography, and exposure to Brazilian import competition headwinds.
- Ternium: Latin American flat and long steel producer with operations in Mexico, Argentina, and other regional markets. Closely comparable to Gerdau's Siderperu, Gerdau Corsa (Mexico), and Argentina footprint, serving construction and industrial customers.
- Commercial Metals Company (CMC): US EAF-based producer focused on rebar, structural steel, and merchant bar with significant North American distribution. Highly comparable to Gerdau's long steel product mix and construction-sector exposure.
- Cleveland-Cliffs: North American flat-rolled steel producer and iron ore miner serving automotive, construction, and infrastructure markets. Comparable as a vertically integrated steelmaker operating in the same Section 232-protected US market.
Others
- Vale SA: Global iron ore leader and Gerdau's consortium partner for the Porto Sudeste bid. Adjacent (raw material supplier) rather than direct competitor, but the deepening Vale-Gerdau partnership and shared iron ore logistics make Vale a key ecosystem participant for Gerdau's input cost trajectory.
Regional players
- Acerinox: Spanish-headquartered stainless and high-alloy steel manufacturer with global operations. Comparable as a specialty long steel producer serving industrial end markets, though more stainless-focused than Gerdau's carbon steel core.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gerdau social profiles
Digital presenceGerdau compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance20 records
Gerdau financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gerdau leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Gerdau subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Gerdau funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gerdau M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gerdau
What does Gerdau do?
Gerdau manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of steel products — including long steel (rebar CA-50/CA-60/CA-70, wire rod, merchant bar, structural profiles), flat steel (hot-rolled coils, plates), and special bar quality (SBQ) steels — to construction, automotive, energy, agribusiness, naval, and industrial machinery customers across the Americas. The company operates 29 steel production units, supports captive iron ore mining (Miguel Burnier), and generates renewable energy (Dona Francisca hydro and Barro Alto solar) to power its steelmaking operations, with sales conducted through direct enterprise sales, regional distributors, and the Gerdau mais digital platform.
Is Gerdau a public or private company?
Gerdau is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Gerdau founded?
Gerdau was founded in 1903. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Gerdau based?
Gerdau is headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, in the Latin America region.
How does Gerdau make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Steel Manufacturing and Sales are the primary driver. The others are energy Generation and Ownership and green Finance.
Who are Gerdau's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ArcelorMittal, Nucor, Steel Dynamics, United States Steel Corporation, Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), Ternium, Commercial Metals Company (CMC) and Cleveland-Cliffs. Vale SA is listed as an others. Acerinox is listed as a regional player.
Does Gerdau have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gerdau.
What industry is Gerdau in?
Gerdau's product category is Steel Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKABAA, Integrated Steelmaking (BF-BOF), with a secondary code of IMAKABAJ, Specialty & Alloy Steel (Stainless, Tool Steel, Electrical Steel, High-Strength/HSLA). Its NAICS code is 3311 and its SIC code is 3310.