We have a high level of indebtedness that could make it more difficult or expensive to refinance our maturing debt and /orand/or incur new debt.

As of December 31, 2018,2019, our total debt outstanding was R$28,82727,967 million, comprising R$5,6535,126 million of short-term debt and R$23,17422,841 million of long-term debt. We had R$2,2481,089 million in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2018.2019. Our planned investments across our business segments will require a significant amount of cash over the course of 20192020 and following years. See “Item 4D. Property, Plant and Equipment—Acquisitions and Dispositions.”

Our level of indebtedness could affect our credit rating and our ability to obtain any necessary financing in the future and may increase our cost of borrowing. In addition, our level of indebtedness could make it more difficult to refinance our existing indebtedness and could make us more vulnerable in the event of a downturn in our business. In these and other circumstances, servicing our indebtedness may use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations, which could adversely affect us and make it more difficult for us to make payments of dividends and other distributions to our shareholders, including the holders of ADSs, as well as to fund our operations, working capital and capital expenditures necessary for the maintenance and expansion of our business activities.

Our ability to refinance our indebtedness maturing in 20192020 and 20202021 is subject to market conditions and creditor approvals. In the event conditions are not favorable or approvals are not obtained, we will be required to make significant payments in the next 1624 months under our financings, which would adversely affect our financial and cash position and may result in downgrades in our credit ratings.

We cannot assure you that our credit ratings will not be lowered, suspended or withdrawn by the rating agencies.

Our credit ratings are limited in scope, and do not address all material risks relating to an investment in our common shares or ADSs, but rather reflect only the views of the rating agencies at the time the ratings are issued. These ratings may affect the cost and other terms upon which we are able to obtain funding and are subject to change due to factors specific to us, trends in the industries we operate or in the credit and capital markets generally. On December 31, 2018,2019, our Fitch, Moody’s and S&P credit ratings were B-, B3B, B2 and CCC+,B, respectively. Credit rating agencies regularly evaluate us and their ratings are based on a number of factors, including our financial strength. We cannot assure that credit rating agencies will not downgrade our credit ratings or that credit ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or not be withdrawn entirely by the rating agencies, if in their judgment circumstances so warrant.

Any lowering, suspension or withdrawal of our credit ratings may have an adverse effect on us and our ability to refinance our existing indebtedness.

Accidents or malfunctioning equipment on our premises, railways or ports may decrease or interrupt production, internal logistics or distribution of our products and adversely affect us.

The steel and iron ore production processes depend on certain critical equipment, such as blast furnaces, steel converters, continuous casting machines, rolling mills, drillers, reclaimers, conveyor belts, crushing and screening equipment and ship loaders, as well as on internal logistics and distribution channels, such as railways and seaports. This equipment and infrastructure may be affected in the case of malfunction or damage. Any significant interruptions in our production process, internal logistics or distribution channels (including our ports and railways) could materially and adversely affect us.

In addition, our operations involve the use, handling, storage, discharge and disposal of hazardous substances into the environment. Our mining, steel and cement businesses are generally subject to significant risks and hazards, including fire, explosions, toxic gas leaks, spilling of polluting substances or other hazardous materials, rockfall incidents in mining operations and incidents involving mobile equipment or machinery and accidents involving our tailings dams. Such events could occur by accident or by breach of operating and maintenance standards, and could result in a significant environmental impact, damage to or destruction of our mineral properties and/or production facilities, personal injury or death, delays or suspensions in production, monetary losses and exposure to civil responsibilities, administrative penalties, criminal sanctions and closure orders for non-compliance with these regulations. OurFailure to comply with our health, safety and environmental standards and risk management programs and procedures may provebe insufficient in preventingto prevent incidents or accidents that could adversely affect us.

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Failures in or interruptions to our telecommunications, information technology systems or automated machinery could adversely affect us.

Our operations are heavily reliant on telecommunications, information technology systems and automated machinery. Disruptions to these systems, caused by obsolescence, technical failures or intentional acts, may adversely affect us. In addition, any failure in our systems related to confidential information, caused by external cyber‑attacks or internal actions, including negligence or misconduct of our employees, could have a negative impact on our reputation and our interactions with competitors and other third parties, including governmental and regulatory bodies, suppliers and others.

Our information technology systems are protected by security layers, including security solutions and monitoring processes; however, they may be vulnerable to external factors such as natural disasters, viruses, cyber‑attacks and other security breaches. Any damage or interruption to our information technology systems may adversely affect our results of our business and expose us to fines and litigation.

In 2018, Law No. 13,709/2018, or the Brazilian General Data Protection Law, was enacted to take effect in August 2020 and to change the personal data protection system in Brazil. This law sets forth a new legal framework for the treatment of personal data, including the rights of personal data holders, the legal basis applicable to personal data protection, the requirements to obtain consent, the obligations and requirements related to security incidents, personal data leaks and transfers and the creation of the Brazilian Data Protection Authority, among others. If we fail to adapt our processes to comply with this law, we may be subject to penalties, including mandatory disclosure of our non-compliance, temporary blocking and/or deletion of personal data and fines of up to 2% of our revenue in the last fiscal year, excluding taxes, up to an aggregate amount of R$50.0 million per infraction.

Our insurance policies may not be sufficient to cover all our losses.

We maintain several types of insurance policies as part of our risk management for each of our businesses and seek to follow industry practice regarding best coverage, which encompasses domestic and international (import and export) cargo transportation (road, rail, sea or air), life insurance, personal accidents, health, automobile, directors and officers, general liability, CAR (construction and erection risks), trade credit insurance, surety, named perils, ports and terminal liabilities.

We also have an insurance policy covering the operational risks, material damages and loss of profits of the following operations and subsidiaries: Presidente Vargas Steelworks, CSN Mineração S.A., or CSN Mineração, and the container terminal Sepetiba Tecon S.A., or TECON. This policy was renewed with domestic and foreign insurers and reinsurers and is valid until March 31,June 30, 2020, with a limited indemnity of US$600 million (for an insured value of US$9.110.2 billion) and a deductible of US$385 million for material damages and 45 days to loss of profits.

The coverage obtained in our insurance policies may not be sufficient to cover all risks or the extent of the risks we are exposed to, which could expose us to significant costs. Additionally, we may not be able to successfully contract or renew our insurance policies or to do so on terms satisfactory to us. The occurrence of one or more of these events may adversely affect us.

Our projects are subject to risks that, if materialized, may result in increased costs and/or delays or that could prevent their timely or successful implementation.

We are investing to further increase our steel, mining and cement production capacity, as well as our logistics capabilities. The success of these projects is subject to a number of risks that, if materialized, may adversely affect our growth prospects and profitability, including, among others:

·        delays, availability issues or higher than expected costs in obtaining the necessary equipment, services and materials to build and operate a project;

·        lack of infrastructure, including waste disposal areas and reliable power and water supply;

·        environmental remediation costs;

·        delays or higher than expected costs in obtaining or renewing required authorizations, concessions, licenses or permits and/or regulatory approvals to build or continue a project; and

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·        changes in market conditions, laws or regulations that render a project less profitable than expected or economically or otherwise unfeasible.

Any one or a combination of the factors described above may materially and adversely affect us.

We are subject to environmental, health and safety incidents. Additionally, current, new or more stringent environmental, health and safety regulations applicable to us may result in liability exposure and increased capital expenditures.

Our steel production, mining, cement, energy and logistics facilities are subject to a broad range of laws, regulations and permit requirements in the countries where we operate relating to the protection of the environment, health and safety.

Brazilian pollution standards are subject to change, including new effluent and air emission standards, water management and solid waste-handling regulations, wildlife maintenance regulations, restrictions on business expansions, native forest preservation requirements and the obligation to support the creation of an integral protection conservation unit, as privately owned conservation areas (Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural), or national parks, or areas of relevant ecological interest (ARIE), including the Cicuta Forest, as environmental compensation for industrial and mining expansion projects. The Brazilian government has adopted a decree under the national policy for climate change (Política Nacional de Mudanças Climáticas) that contemplates a reduction in carbon emissions for the industry (including steel making and cement sectors) and an action plan is being developed by a technical committee composed of representatives from the government, industry associations and academia. The target reduction for the mining sector is yet to be established.

In addition, the state of Rio de Janeiro, through the State Environment Institute (Instituto Estadual do Ambiente), or INEA, issued a law that requires steel making and cement facilities to present action plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when renewing or applying for operational licenses. At the federal level, the environmental national council, (Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente), or CONAMA, issued Resolution No. 436/2011 to address air emissions that obliged steel companies to comply with certain emission standards as of December 2018, including adjustments in the filters of plant chimneys. In September 2018, we entered into a TAC with the state of Rio de Janeiro relating to this resolution. Any failure to comply with these or other laws, resolutions and standards may expose us to civil, criminal and administrative liability. The Brazilian government has also established a national policy for solid waste (Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos), which provides for strict guidelines for solid waste management and industry targets for reverse logistics as part of the environmental licensing process. Finally, a new regulatory framework for mining operations was issued in June 2018, which may impose stricter regulations on our mining operations, including requests for environmental recovery of areas and investments for the granting of mining concessions.

Our operations involve the use, handling, storage, discharge and disposal of hazardous substances into the environment and the use of natural resources, and are subject to significant risks and hazards, including fire, explosion, toxic gas leaks, spilling of polluting substances or other hazardous materials, rockfalls, incidents involving dams, failure of operational structures and incidents involving mobile equipment, vehicles or machinery. This could occur by accident or by breach of operating and maintenance standards, and could result in significant environmental and social impacts, damage to or destruction of mineral properties or production facilities, personal injury, illness or death of employees, contractors or community members close to operations, environmental damage, delays in production, monetary losses and possible legal liability. Additionally, in remote localities, our employees may be

exposed to tropical and contagious diseases that may affect their health and safety. Notwithstanding our standards, policies and controls, our operations remain subject to incidents or accidents that could adversely affect us and our stakeholders.

New or more stringent environmental, safety and health standards imposed on us could require increased capital expenditures, additional legal preservation areas within our properties or modifications to our operating practices or projects. With regard to our mining activities, as a result of recent accidents of other mining companies in the cities of MarianaFor further information on environmental regulations and Brumadinho, in the state of Minas Gerais, involving the breaking of upstream mining dams, which we also operate, but all of which are inactive, further new or more stringent environmental licensing requirements for our project operations, specifically for our dams, could be imposed. ANM has determined that all upstream dams in Brazil must be decommissioned or adapted to other methods by 2021 for inactive damsclaims, see “Item 4.B.—Business Overview—Governmental Regulation and by 2023 for active dams, and similar regulation has been passed by the state of Minas Gerais and its environmental bodies, requiring decommissioning by 2022.Other Legal Matters.”

In addition, in July 2018, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and the State Public Prosecutor of Rio de Janeiro filed a public civil action against us, HARSCO and INEA, for immediate removal of slag piles in the city of Volta Redonda, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, that adjoin the Paraíba do Sul River. The amount and timing of these and other environmental and related expenditures may vary substantially from those currently anticipated. These additional costs may also have a negative impact on the profitability of the projects we intend to implementtoimplement or may make such projects economically unfeasible. We could also be exposed to civil, administrative or criminal liability and closure orders for non-compliance with these regulations, as well as encounter delays in obtaining environmental or other operating licenses. Waste disposal, including our slag piles, and emission practices may result in the need for us to clean up or retrofit our facilities or our disposal locations at substantial costs and/or could result in substantial civil, criminal and administrative liability, including, among others, pursuant to public civil actions. Environmental legislation in foreign markets to which we export our products may also materially and adversely affect our export sales and us.

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In addition, we may enter into TACs with Brazilian regulatory agencies that require us to minimize or eliminate the risk of environmental impacts in the areas where we operate. If we are unable to comply with a TAC or to remediate non-compliance in a timely manner, we may be exposed to penalties, such as fines, revocation of permits or closure of facilities.

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

We operate in a global environment and our activities straddle multiple jurisdictions and complex regulatory frameworks subject to enforcement worldwide. Our governance and compliance procedures may not prevent breaches of law, accounting and/or governance standards applicable to us, and we may be unable to identify wrongdoing or improper activities by members of our management, employees or third parties. We may be subject to breaches of our Code of Ethics, business conduct protocols and to instances of fraudulent behavior, dishonesty and unlawful conduct by members of our management, employees, contractors or other agents, which could subject us to fines, loss of our operating licenses and reputational harm, as well as other penalties, which may materially and adversely affect us.

We may fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, which could prevent us from timely and accurately reporting our financial results.

Our internal controls over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements in a timely manner due to inherent limitations, including human error, circumvention or overriding of controls, or fraud. Even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, including implementing new or improved required controls, we could fail to meet our financial reporting obligations, which could trigger a default under some of our agreements. In this regard, and in connection with management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, we concluded that, as of December 31, 2018, CSN’s2019, our internal control over financial reporting is effective.

Some of our operations depend on joint ventures, jointly controlled entities, consortia and other forms of cooperation, and our business could be adversely affected if our partners fail to observe their commitments.

We currently operate parts of our business through joint ventures, strategic alliances and consortia with other companies. We have, among others: (i) established a strategic alliance with an Asian

consortium at our controlled investee CSN Mineração to mine iron ore; (ii) a joint venture with other Brazilian steel and mining companies at MRS Logística S.A., or MRS, to explore railway transportation in the Southeastern region of Brazil; (iii) a joint venture with certain Brazilian governmental entities at Transnordestina Logística S.A., or TLSA, to explore railway transportation in the Northeastern region of Brazil; (iv) a joint venture with Engie Brasil Energia S.A. and Companhia de Cimento Itambé, or Itambé, at Itá Energética S.A., or ITASA, to produce electricity; and (v) a consortium with Votorantim Metais Zinco S.A.,L.D.R.S.P.E Geração de Energia e Participações, Aliança Geração de Energia S.A. (union of Vale S.A., or Vale, and CEMIG Geração e Transmissão S.A.), or Aliança, and AngloGold Ashanti Córrego do Sítio Mineração S.A., or AngloGold, at Igarapava hydroelectric facility to produce electricity.

Our forecasts and plans for these strategic alliances, joint ventures and consortia assume that our partners will observe their obligations to make capital contributions, purchase products and, in some cases, provide managerial personnel or financing. In addition, many of the projects contemplated by our joint ventures or consortia rely on financing commitments, which contain certain preconditions for each disbursement. If any of our partners fails to observe their commitments or we fail to comply with all preconditions required under our financing commitments or other partnership arrangements, the affected joint venture, consortium or other project may not be able to operate in accordance with its business plans, or we may have to increase the level of our investment to implement these plans, which could adversely affect us.

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Risks associated with drilling and production could render mining projects economically unfeasible.

Once mineral deposits are discovered, it can take a number of years from the initial phases of drilling until production is possible, during which time the economic feasibility of production may change. Substantial time and expenditures are required to:

·        establish mineral reserves through drilling;

·        determine appropriate mining and metallurgical processes for optimizing the recovery of metal contained in ore;

·        obtain environmental and other licenses;

·        construct mining, processing facilities and infrastructure required for greenfield properties; and

·        obtain the ore or extract the minerals from the ore.

If a mining project proves not to be economically feasible by the time we are able to profit from it, we may incur substantial losses and be obliged to record write-offs. In addition, potential changes or complications involving metallurgical and other technological processes arising during the life of a project may result in delays and cost overruns that may render the project not economically feasible.

Our mineral reserve and mine life may prove inaccurate, market price fluctuations and cost changes may render certain ore reserves uneconomical to mine and we may face rising extraction costs or investment requirements over time as our reserves deplete.

Our reported ore reserves are estimated quantities of ore and minerals that we have determined can be economically mined and processed under present and anticipated conditions to extract their mineral content. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and in projecting potential future rates of mineral production, including many factors beyond our control. Reserve engineering involves estimating deposits of minerals that cannot be measured in an exact manner, and the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. As a result, no assurance can be given that the indicated amount of ore will be recovered or that it will be recovered at the rates we anticipate. Estimates of different engineers may vary, and results of our mining production subsequent to the date of an estimate may lead to revision of estimates. Reserve estimates and estimates of mine life may require revision based on actual production experience and other factors. For example, fluctuations in the market prices of minerals and metals, reduced recovery rates or increased operating and capital costs due to inflation, exchange rates or other factors may render proven and probable reserves uneconomic to exploit and may ultimately result in a restatement of reserves.

In addition, reserves are gradually depleted in the ordinary course of our exploration activities. As mining progresses, distances to the primary crusher and to waste deposits becomes longer and pits become steeper. Also, for some types of reserves, mineralization grade decreases and hardness increases at increased depths. As a result, over time we may experience rising unit extraction costs with respect to

each mine, or we may need to make additional investments, including adaptation or construction of processing plants and expansion or construction of tailings dams. Our exploration programs may also fail to result in the expansion or replacement of reserves depleted by current production. If we do not enhance existing reserves or develop new operations, we may not be able to sustain our current level of production beyond the remaining lives of our existing mines. See “Item 4B—Business Overview—Our Mining Segment—Mineral Reserves.”

Natural and other disasters, or extreme weather conditions, could disrupt our operations. 

Because of our exposure to raw materials costs, extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall or flooding, could reduce the available supply of our raw materials and increase our raw materials costs, which would have a material adverse impact on us. Additionally, we are subject to technical or physical risks including fire, power loss, water supply loss, reduction or rationing, leakages, accidents and failures in telecommunications and information technology systems, any of which could disrupt our operations.

We may not be able to consummate proposed acquisitions or integrate acquired businesses successfully.

From time to time, we may evaluate acquisition opportunities that would strategically fit our business objectives. If we are unable to complete acquisitions, or integrate acquisitions successfully and develop these businessesthesebusinesses to realize revenue growth and cost savings, we could be adversely affected. Acquisitions also pose the risk that we may be exposed to successor liability involving an acquired company. Due diligence conducted in connection with an acquisition, and any contractual guarantees or indemnities that we receive, may not be sufficient to protect us from, or compensate us for, actual liabilities. A material liability associated with an acquisition, such as labor or environmental liabilities, could adversely affect us and reduce the expected and bargained-for benefits of the acquisition.

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In addition, we may incur asset impairment charges related to acquisitions, which may reduce our profitability. Our acquisition activities may also present financial, managerial and operational risks, including diversion of management attention from existing core businesses, difficulties integrating or separating personnel, financial and other systems, failure to achieve the operational benefits that were anticipated at the time of the transaction, adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers, inaccurate estimates of fair value made in the accounting for acquisitions and/or amortization of acquired intangible assets which would reduce future reported earnings, potential loss of customers or key employees of acquired businesses and indemnities and potential disputes with buyers or sellers. Finally, proposed acquisitions may also be subject to review from the competition authorities of the countries involved in the transaction, which may approve the transaction, do so subject to restrictions, including the divestment of assets, or reject it. Any of these developments or adverse regulatory decisions could negatively affect us.

We may not be able to maintain adequate liquidity and our cash flows from operations and available capital may not be sufficient to meet our obligations.

While our cash flows from operations and available capital have been sufficient to meet our current operating expenses, contractual obligations and debt service requirements to date, our liquidity, cash flows from operations and available capital may be negatively impacted by the pricing environment for our steel and iron ore products, the exchange rate environment and the effects of weak economic conditions in Brazil. These factors have materially and adversely affected our liquidity and we expect this to continue. Recent cost cutting measures implemented by us may not be sufficient to offset these effects or to improve our liquidity position.

We have announced certain measures to improve our liquidity and debt profile, including the potential sale of certain assets. In addition, we are negotiating the extension of certain of our credit facilities. If we are unable to successfully sell certain assets and/or extend our debt amortization profile, we may not be able to maintain adequate liquidity and our cash flows from operations and available capital may not be sufficient to meet our obligations.

We have experienced labor disputes in the past that have disrupted our operations, and such disputes may recur.

A substantial number of our employees and some of the employees of our subcontractors are represented by labor unions and are covered by collective bargaining or other labor agreements, which are subject to periodic renegotiation. Strikes and other labor disruptions at any of our facilities or labor

disruptions involving third parties who may provide us with goods or services have in the past and may in the future materially and adversely affect the operations of our facilities and/or the timing of completion and the cost of our projects.

We are exposed to the risk of litigation.

We are currently and may in the future be a party to legal proceedings and judicial, administrative or arbitration claims. For some of these legal proceedings and claims, we have not established a provision on our balance sheet or have only established provisions for part of the amounts in question, based on our external or internal counsel’s judgment as to the likelihood of an outcome unfavorable to us.

Although we are contesting such proceedings and claims, the outcome of each specific proceeding and claim is uncertain and may result in obligations that could materially and adversely affect us.

Certain judicial or administrative proceedings may adversely affect our shareholders and holders of the ADSs, specifically their receipt of dividends. In August 2018, a federal court of tax enforcement blocked our distribution of an extraordinary dividend in the amount of R$890.0 million due to ongoing tax proceedings we are party to, which rulingdecision was reversed in December 2018.2018 through an injunction filed by us. The case is pending final judgment.

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The outbreak of communicable diseases such as the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak on a global scale may affect investment sentiment, cause operational disruptions and result in sporadic volatility in global markets.

The outbreak of communicable diseases such as the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak on a global scale may affect investment sentiment, cause operational disruptions and result in volatility in global markets, potentially affecting the global and local economy and outlook. The spread of this virus has caused certain business, market and travel disruption and has resulted in government measures shutting down certain operations and restricting travel.

In the event the spread of COVID-19 continues, its consequences are likely to materially and adversely affect the global economy and the financial markets, consequently affecting our clients, our suppliers and us. Quarantines and government measures may restrict certain economic activities in affected regions globally, including Brazil, resulting in reduced business volume, disrupted production and operations and temporary closures of our or other companies’ facilities.

There is uncertainty regarding the duration of disruptions deriving from the spread of COVID-19, the extent of government intervention or other measures and economic effects on the stock market, foreign exchange rates, unemployment rates, interest rates and otherwise. The extent to which the spread of COVID-19 will affect us depends on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted as of the date of this annual report.

The effect of any discontinuation or replacement of the LIBOR may adversely affect us.

The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced in July 2017 that it intends to no longer compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of the London interbank offered rate, or LIBOR, after 2021. To mitigate any possible impact, various regulators have proposed alternative reference rates. As of December 31, 2019, we had R$2,564 million of LIBOR-indexed financings maturing after 2021. We cannot predict the effect of any discontinuation or replacement of the LIBOR at this time and, consequently, we cannot assure you that these changes will not have an adverse effect on us.

Risks Relating to our Common Shares and ADSs

Our controlling shareholder has the ability to direct our business and affairs and its interests could conflict with yours.

Our controlling shareholder has the power to, among other things, elect a majority of our directors and determine the outcome of any action requiring shareholder approval, including transactions with related parties, corporate reorganizations, acquisitions, dispositions, the destination and diversification of our investments and the timing and payment of any future dividends, subject to minimum dividend payment requirements imposed by Brazilian Corporate Law. Our controlling shareholder may have an interest in pursuing acquisitions, dispositions, financings or other transactions that could conflict with your interests as a holder of our common shares and ADSs. In addition, the interests of the members of our controlling family have not always been aligned and any conflicts that may arise may adversely affect us.

If you surrender ADSs and withdraw common shares, you risk forfeiting Brazilian tax advantages and losing the ability to timely remit foreign currency abroad.

As an ADS holder, you benefit from the electronic certificate of foreign capital registration obtained by the custodian for our common shares underlying the ADSs in Brazil, which allows the custodian to convert dividends and other distributions with respect to the common shares into non-Brazilian currency and remit the proceeds abroad. Pursuant to CMN Resolution No. 4,373, in order for an investor to surrender ADSs for the purpose of withdrawing the shares represented thereby and be entitled to trade the underlying shares directly on the B3, the investor is required to appoint a Brazilian financial institution duly authorized by the Central Bank and the CVM to act as its legal representative, who shall be responsible, among other things, for keeping and updating the investors’ certificates of registrations with the Central Bank.IfBank. If you surrender ADSs and withdraw common shares you may be subject to a less favorable tax treatment on gains with respect to these investments. Moreover, if such representatives fail to obtain or update the relevant certificates of registration, investors may incur in additional expenses or be subject to operational delays which could affect their ability to receive dividends or distributions relating to the common shares or the return of their capital in a timely manner. The custodian’s certificate of registration or any foreign capital registration directly obtained by such holders may be affected by future legislative or regulatory changes, and we cannot assure such holders that additional restrictionsadditionalrestrictions applicable to them, the disposition of the underlying common shares or the repatriation of the proceeds from the process will not be imposed in the future. For a more complete description of Brazilian restrictions on foreign investments and Brazilian foreign investment regulations, see “Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Restrictions on Foreign Investment” and “—A. Selected Financial Data—Exchange Rate Information—Exchange Controls.” For a more complete description of Brazilian tax regulations, including any potential risks regarding the possibility that the sale or disposition of ADSs by a Non-Brazilian Holder may be subject to capital gains tax in Brazil, see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations.”

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Holders of ADSs may not be able to exercise their voting rights.

Holders of ADSs may only exercise their voting rights with respect to the underlying common shares in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under the deposit agreement, ADS holders must vote by giving voting instructions to the depositary. Upon receipt of the voting instructions of the ADS holder, the depositary will vote the underlying common shares in accordance with these instructions. If we ask for voting instructions, the depositary will notify ADS holders of the upcoming vote and will arrange to deliver the proxy card. We cannot assure that ADS holders will receive the proxy card in time to ensure that they can instruct the depositary to vote. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not liable for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner in which they do so. Alternatively, ADS holders can exercise their right to vote by surrendering their ADSs for cancellation in exchange for our common shares. Pursuant to applicable Brazilian law, companies that issue ADSs must publish the first call for a shareholders’ meeting at least 30 days in advance of the meeting, and the second call must be published at least eight days in advance of the meeting. When a shareholders’ meeting is convened, holders of ADSs may not receive sufficient advance notice to surrender their ADSs in exchange for the underlying common shares in time to allow them to vote with respect to any specific matter. As a result, holders of ADSs may not be able to exercise their voting rights.

The relative volatility and illiquidity of the Brazilian securities markets may substantially limit your ability to sell the common shares underlying the ADSs at the price and time you desire.

Investing in securities that trade in emerging markets, such as Brazil, often involves greater risk than investing in securities of issuers in the United States, and such investments are generally considered to be more speculative in nature. The Brazilian securities market is substantially smaller, less liquid, more concentrated and can be more volatile than major securities markets in the United States. There is also significantly greater concentration in the Brazilian securities market than in major securities markets in the United States. The ten largest companies in terms of market capitalization represented 60.6%58.9% of the aggregate market capitalization of the B3 S.A. –Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão, or the B3, as of December 31, 2018.2019.

Although you are entitled to withdraw the common shares underlying the ADSs from the depositary at any time, your ability to sell the common shares underlying the ADSs at the price and time you wish may be substantially limited.

Holders of ADSs may be unable to exercise preemptive rights with respect to our common shares.

We may not be able to offer our common shares to U.S. holders of ADSs pursuant to preemptive rights granted to holders of our common shares in connection with any future issuance of our common shares unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is effective with respect to such common shares and preemptive rights, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. We are not obligated to file a registration statement relating to preemptive rights with respect to our common shares or to undertake steps that may be needed to find available exemptions from registration, and we cannot assure you that we will file any such registration statement or take any such steps. If such a registration statement is not filed and an exemption from registration is not available, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary, may 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. For a more complete description of preemptive rights with respect to the underlying shares, see “Item 10B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Description of Capital Stock––Preemptive Rights.”

A decrease in our market capitalization may increase volatility.

In recent years, our market capitalization has been volatile, resulting in increased volatility in the trading price of our common shares and ADSs. Any decreases in our market capitalization may further increase volatility. The trading price of the ADSs decreased throughout 2018 and, as of December 31, 2018, presented a variation of (11)% as compared to their 2017 year-end trading price. If the trading price of the ADSs drops below the levels required by the listing standards of the New YorkNewYork Stock Exchange, or NYSE, we may be required to do a reverse stock split or a ratio change of the number of common shares per ADS in order to regain compliance with NYSE’s listing standards.

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The trading price of the ADSs increased in 2019 and, as of December 31, 2019, presented a variation of 55% as compared to their trading price as of December 31, 2018.

Item 4. Information on the Company

4A. History and Development of the Company

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional is a Brazilian corporation (sociedade por ações) incorporated in 1941 pursuant to a decree of Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas. The Presidente Vargas Steelworks, located in the city of Volta Redonda, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, began its production of coke, pig iron and steel products in 1946, when we also incorporated the Casa de Pedra Mine, located in the city of Congonhas, state of Minas Gerais, and the Arcos Mine, located in the city of Arcos, state of Minas Gerais. The Casa de Pedra Mine assures us self-sufficiency in iron ore and the Arcos Mine provides our flux, limestone and dolomite.

We were privatized through a series of auctions held in 1993 and early 1994, through which the Brazilian government sold its 91% ownership interest.

Between 1993 and 2002, we implemented a capital improvement program aimed at increasing our annual production of crude steel, improving the quality of our products and enhancing our environmental protection and cleanup programs. As part of these investments, since February 1996, all our production involves continuous casting, which requires lower energy use and results in decreased metal loss as compared to ingot casting. From 1996 until 2002, we invested the equivalent of US$2.4 billion in our capital improvement program and on maintaining our operational capacity, culminating with the renovation of our Blast Furnace No. 3 at the President Vargas Steelworks, or Blast Furnace No.3, and Hot Strip Mill No. 2 in 2001. These measures resulted in an increase of our annual production capacity to 5.6 million tons of crude steel and 5.1 million tons of rolled products.

In 2007, CSNwe started to sell iron ore in the seaborne market. Today, CSN,we, through itsour controlled company CSN Mineração, isare an important exporter of iron ore, drawing from the high quality iron ore reserves in the Casa de Pedra and Engenho mines, located in the state of Minas Gerais. CSN Mineração currently holds the concession to operate the Terminal de Carvão, or TECAR, a solid bulks terminal located in Itaguaí Port in the state of Rio de Janeiro, through which CSN Mineração exports iron ore and imports coal and coke.

In 2009, we entered the cement market with our first grinding mill, next to the Presidente Vargas Steel MillSteelworks in Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, taking advantage of the synergies of the cement business with our steel business.

In order to diversify our product portfolio, we entered the long steel market in 2012, with the acquisition of Stahlwerk Thüringen Gmbh, or SWT, a long steel manufacturer located in Unterwellenborn, Germany.

In addition, we installed a new plant for production of long steel products at Volta Redonda, which began operations in December 2013. The plant consists of an electric arc steelmaking furnace, continuous casting for billets and a hot rolling mill for round section long products. This plant provides the domestic Brazilian market with rebar for civil construction and wire rod for industrial and civil construction.

In 2015, we inaugurated two new grinding mills, and in 2016, we concluded a new 6,500 tons per day kiln line, reaching an aggregate annual capacity of 4.7 million tons in our cement plants.

In June 2018, we sold Heartland Steel Processing, LLC (formerly Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional, LLC) to Steel Dynamics, Inc. for US$400.0 million. We continue our commercial import and distribution activities in the North American market through our U.S. subsidiary Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional, LLC.

In 2019, investments of approximately R$250 million in the maintenance of Blast Furnace No. 3 increased its steel production capacity by 500,000 tons per year.

General

We are one of the largest fully integrated steel producers in Brazil and Latin America in terms of crude steel production. We operate throughout the entire steel production chain, from the mining of iron ore to the productiontheproduction and sale of a diversified range of high value-added steel products. We divide our business into five segments: steel, mining, cement, logistics and energy.

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Steel

Our steel segment comprises a portfolio of diverse products and provides us an international footprint by means of our international subsidiaries and our exports from Brazil. In our flat steel segment, we are an almost fully integrated steelmaker. Our main industrial facility, Presidente Vargas Steelworks produces a broad line of steel products, including slabs, hot and cold-rolled, galvanized and tin mill products for the distribution, packaging, automotive, home appliance and construction industries.

Our production process is based on the integrated steelworks concept. Our current annual crude steel capacity and rolled product capacity at Presidente Vargas Steelworks is 5.6 million and 5.1 million, tons, respectively. At the end of 2015, due to weak internal demand for steel, we decided to interrupt the operation of Blast Furnace No. 02 for maintenance, which impacted our annual production capacity of crude steel at the Presidente Vargas Steelworks by 28%, while the production of rolled steel decreased 20%. During 2016, our inventory levels significantly dropped and we resumed operations of Blast Furnace No. 2 in October 2016.

Our production process is based on the integrated steelworks concept.

We currently obtain all of our iron ore (except for pellets), limestone and dolomite requirements and a portion of our tin requirements, from our own mines. Using imported coal, we produce approximately 55%of our coke requirements at current production levels in our own coke batteries at Volta Redonda. Imported coal is also pulverized and used directly in the pig iron production process. Zinc, manganese ore, aluminum and a portion of our tin requirements are purchased in local markets. Our steel production and distribution processes also require water, industrial gases, electricity, rail and road transportation and port facilities.

In addition to the production of flat steel, we entered into the long steel segment, with the acquisition of SWT in 2012 for €482.5 million. SWT is a long steel producer in Germany with annual production capacity of approximately 1.1 million tons of steel sections.

We also completedSince December 2013, we own and operate a new plant in Volta Redonda for production of long steel products in Volta Redonda, in December 2013.products. The plant consists of an electric arc steelmaking furnace, continuous casting for billets and a hot rolling mill for round section long products – wire rod and rebar.

Mining Activities

We own a number of high quality iron ore mines, strategically located within Brazil’s “Iron Ore Quadrangle” (Quadrilátero Ferrífero) in the state of Minas Gerais, including the Casa de Pedra and Engenho mines, located in the city of Congonhas, pertaining to our controlled investee CSN Mineração, and the Fernandinho mines, located in the city of Itabirito and the Cayman and Pedras Pretas mining rights, located in the city of Rio Acima and Congonhas, respectively, pertaining to our wholly owned subsidiary Minérios Nacional S.A. (formerly Mineração Nacional S.A.), or Minérios Nacional.

Our mining assets also include (i) the solid bulks cargo terminal Itaguaí Port, or TECAR, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, which pertains to CSN Mineração; (ii) the Bocaina mines, located in the city of Arcos, in the state of Minas Gerais, which produce dolomite and limestone; and (iii) Estanho de Rondônia S.A., or ERSA, located in the city of Ariquemes, in the state of Rondônia, which mines and casts tin.

We sold 32.9 million tons, 27.4 million tons, 29.6 million tons and 29.634.9 million tons of iron ore to third parties in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2018,2019, respectively.

Logistics

Our vertical integration strategy and the synergies among our business units are strongly dependent on the logistics needed to guarantee the transportation of inputs at low cost. A number of railways and port terminals comprise the logistics system that integrates our mining, steelmaking and cement units.

We operate a port terminal for containers, TECON at Itaguaí Port, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and CSN Mineração operates TECAR.

We also have the following participation in three railways: (i) we share control in MRS, which operates in the Southeast region of the federal railway system, along the Rio de Janeiro - São Paulo - Belo Horizonte axis; (ii) we have an interest in joint venture TLSA, which has a concession to construct and operate the Northeastern Railway System II; and (iii) we control Ferrovia Transnordestina Logística S.A., or FTL, which operates the Northeastern Railway System I.

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Cement

We entered the cement market in May 2009 in order to take advantage of the synergy potential with our steelmaking business. Our cement operations use as inputs slag generated by our blast furnaces at Volta Redonda and limestone from our limestone reserves in our Bocaina mines, which is used to produce clinker. Slag and clinker are the main inputs in cement production.

In 2015, we inaugurated two grinding mills, and in 2016, we concluded a new kiln line with a capacity of 6,500 tons per day, reaching an aggregate capacity of 4.7 million tons per year of cement production considering our Volta Redonda and Arcos plants. We plan to increase our market share in the cement segment in Brazil in order to diversify our product mix and markets, which will allow us to reduce our risk exposure.

Energy

We are self-sufficient in our energy needs. Steelmaking requires significant amounts of electricity to power rolling mills, production lines, hot metal processing, coking plants and auxiliary units.

The main source of the electricity we use is our thermoelectric cogeneration power plant located at Presidente Vargas Steelworks, which is fueled by gasesgas from the steel production process, and has an installed capacity of 235.2 MW. In addition, we hold a 29.5% equity interest in the Itá hydroelectric facility in the state of Santa Catarina, through a 48.75% equity interest in ITASA and a 17.9% equity interest in the Igarapava hydroelectric facility in the state of Minas Gerais, from whichGerais. Through these equity interests, we have assured 136secured 188 MW from each.in annual power supply for our operations. In 2014, we installed a new turbine generator at Presidente Vargas Steelworks, which added 21 MW to our installed capacity. This turbine uses gases from the iron-making process to generate energy.

Other Information

CSN’sOur legal and commercial name is Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional. CSN isWe are organized for an unlimited period of time under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil. OurBrazil with head offices are located at Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3400, 19^th and 20^th floors, Itaim Bibi, São Paulo, Brazil, CEP 04538-132, and our telephone number is +55 (11) 3049-7100. CSN’sOur agent for service of process in the United States is Cogency Global Inc., located at 10 E. 40^th Street, 10^th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

Our10016.Our website iswww.csn.com.br. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including our filings, athttp://www.sec.gov.

4B. Business Overview

Competitive Strengths

We believe that we have the following competitive strengths:

Integrated business model.We are a highly integrated steelmaker and we believe this integration supports resilient and profitable operations. Our integrated business model comprises our captive sources of raw materials, principally iron ore, and our infrastructure, including railways and deep-water port facilities. In terms of raw materials, we own a number of high-quality iron ore mines, strategically located within Brazil’s “Iron Ore Quadrangle,” which distinguishes us from our main competitors in Brazil who are required to purchase all or a portion of their iron ore from mining companies.

Profitable mining business.We have in recent years invested significantly in our mining business, placing CSNus in a prominent position among the world’s leading iron ore players. Further mining expansions will enable us to expand our product portfolio and total output, increasing our presence in seaborne markets.

We have high-quality iron ore reserves in Casa de Pedra, Engenho, Fernandinho and other mines, all located in the state of Minas Gerais. Our mining activities are an important contributor to our EBITDA. We sold 32.9 million tons in 2016 (including 100% of Namisa due to its full consolidation of CSN Mineração), 32.6 million tons in 2017, and 34.8 million tons in 2018.2018 and 38.5 million tons in 2019 of iron ore. Our mining business also includes TECAR, a solid bulks terminal at Itaguaí Port in the state of Rio de Janeiro, with a capacity to handle 4542 million tons per year, and the Bocaina mine, located in the city of Arcos in the state of Minas Gerais, which produces dolomite and limestone, as well as our subsidiary ERSA, which mines and casts tin.

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In 2015 and 2016, we implemented cost reduction measures, which, along with the depreciation of thereal, reduced our production costs at the Casa de Pedra mine from US$24.66/15.75/ton in 20142017 to US$15.56/ton14.58 in 2015, US$12.92/ton in 20162018 and US$115.75/ton14.68 in 2017. In 2018, our production costs decreased 8% as compared to 2017, reaching US$14.58/ton.2019.

Thoroughly developed transport infrastructure.We have a thoroughly developed transport infrastructure, connecting our iron ore mines to our steel mills and to the port terminals we operate. Our Presidente Vargas Steelworks facility is located next to railway and port systems, which facilitates its supply of raw materials, product shipments and access to our main clients. Our steelworks are close to the main steel consumer centers in Brazil, with easy access to port facilities and railways. The concession for the main railway we use and operate is owned by MRS, in which we hold, directly and indirectly, a total of 34.94% (or 37.27% before non-controlling interest) direct and indirect ownership interest. The railway connects our Casa de Pedra mine to the Presidente Vargas Steelworks and to our terminals at Itaguaí Port, which handle our iron ore exports and most of our steel exports, as well as our imports of coal and metallurgical coke. Since the constitutionconstruction of MRS’s railway in 1996, it has significantly improved its productivity and developed its business, with increased cash generation.

Self-sufficiency in energyEnergy generation.We are self-sufficient in our energy needsgenerate power through our interests in the hydroelectric facilities of Itá and Igarapava, as well as our own thermoelectric plant located inside Presidente Vargas Steelworks.Steelworks, which allow us to benefit from reduced energy tariffs. We sell excess energy we generate in the energy market on a spot basis. Our 256256.2 MW thermoelectric cogeneration plant provides Presidente Vargas Steelworks with approximately 60% of its energy needs for its steel mills, and uses as its primary fuel the waste gases generated by our coke ovens, blast furnaces and steel processing facilities. We hold a 29.5% equity interest in the Itá hydroelectric facility in the state of Santa Catarina, through a 48.75% equity interest in ITASA. This ownership stake grants us assured energy of 167ITASA, and a 17.9% equity interest in the Igarapava hydroelectric facility. Through these equity interests, we have secured 188 MW proportional toin annual power supply for our ownership interest, pursuant to a 30-yearoperations under power purchase agreementagreements at a fixed price per megawattMW hour, adjusted annually for inflation. In addition, we own 17.9% of the Igarapava hydroelectric facility, which has a fully installed capacity of 210 MW and a direct take of 136 MW of assured energy to us.

Low cost structure.As a result of our fully integrated business model, our thoroughly developed transportation infrastructure and our self-sufficiency in energy generation, we have been consistently generating high margins compared to peer companies in both the steel and mining segments. Other factors that lead to our low cost structure include the strategic location of our steelworks facility along with our low-cost, skilled workforce.

Diverse product portfolio and product mix.We have a diversified flat steel product mix that includes hot-rolled, cold-rolled, galvanized and steel tin mill products, in order to meet a wide range of customer needs across all steel-consuming industries. We focus on selling high-margin products, including tin-coated, pre-painted, galvalume and galvanized products. Our galvanized products provide material for exposed auto parts, using hot-dip galvanized steel and laser-welded blanks. Our CSN Paraná branch provides us with additional capacity to produce high-quality galvanized, galvalume and pre-painted steel products for the construction and home appliance industries. In addition, our distribution subsidiary, Prada, provides a strong sales channel in the domestic market, enabling us to meet demand from smaller customers and to establish an important presence in this market.

Strong presence in domestic market and strategic international exposure for steel products.We have a strong presence in the Brazilian market for steel products, with a market share of approximately 30%27% of the domestic flat steel market. In addition, through our international subsidiaries we sell our flat steel products in the United States and in Europe, which sales accounted for approximately 17%14% of our total flat steel sales in 2018.2019. Direct exports accounted for 5%2% of our total sales in 2018.2019. In 2012, we acquired SWT, a long steel producer in Germany with annual production capacity of approximately 1.1 million tons of steel profiles, strengthening our steel products mix and geographical diversification. In 2018, SWT accounted for 16%17% of our total sales, representing 806,000791,000 tons.

Our Strategies

Our goal is to make the most of our high-quality product portfolio, low cost production and diverse consumer market to preserve our position as one of the world’s lowest-cost steel producers and as a global player in the mining of iron ore, increase our cement segment’s market share and optimize our infrastructure assets, including ports, railways and power generating plants, which support our high integration and low cost structure. To achieve these goals, we have developed specific strategies for each of our business segments, as described below.

Steel

The strategy for our steel business comprises:

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·        Focus on the domestic market, by increasing market share in the flat steel segment and long steel market;

·        Emphasis on high-margin coated steel products, such as galvanized, galvalume, pre-painted and tin plate;

·        Geographical diversification through our flat and long steel facilities abroad and our focus on diversifying our exports through, among others, coated steels;

·        Constant pursuit of operational excellence by developing and implementing cost reduction projects, including energy efficiency, and process review programs, including internal logistic optimization, project development and implementation discipline;

·        Exploring marketing and commercial synergies through our flat steel distribution network and product portfolio to accelerate our entrance into the domestic long steel market; and

·        Increased customized services and distribution abilities through our expanding distribution network.

For information on planned investments relating to our steel activities, see “Item 4D. Property, Plant and Equipment—Acquisitions and Dispositions.”

Mining

In order to strengthen our position in the iron ore market, we plan to invest in our mining assets, including CSN Mineração, to generate low operational costs and long-term growth opportunities.

In the coming years, we expect to reach an annual shipment level of over 60 million tons per year of iron ore products, including third party products, by increasing mine capacities, including Casa de Pedra, and developing export services for third party producers. In the short term, considering downward pricing pressure expected by global iron ore market participants and likely volatility in global iron ore prices, our focus is on exporting quality iron ore at low cost in order to guarantee our participation in the seaborne market.

To sustain this growth, we plan to increase TECAR’s capacity from 42 million tons per year to 60 million tons per year.

To maximize the profitability of our product portfolio, we are focused on increasing our output of high quality pellet feed with Itabirito’s deposits and investing with strategic partners and clients in providing pellet feed to pellet producers.

For information on planned investments relating to our mining activities, see “Item 4D. Property, Plant and Equipment—Acquisitions and Dispositions.”

Logistics

We expect to expand our logistics capabilities, which comprise our integrated infrastructure operations of railways and ports, in order to increase the transportation efficiency of both our incoming raw materials and distributed products.

We will continue to improve our product delivery in the Brazilian market (mainly steel and cement) by implementing low-cost measures, increasing our use of rail transportation and providing more distribution centers to reach end-clients.

In addition to investments in theour bulk terminal TECAR, we expanded theour TECON container terminal in 2014 in order to operate large vessels simultaneously, which increased TECON’shas a capacity toof 440,000 containers.containers per year.

In terms of railways, we are developing the Transnordestina Logística project, which focuses on iron ore, agricultural commodities, gypsum and fuel. We also plan to invest in increased efficiency and capacity in the South of Brazil through our participation in MRS.

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Cement

Our cement business strategy involves the utilization of the limestone reserves in our Bocaina mines and the slag generated by our blast furnaces at Volta Redonda. Our first cement grinding mill was inaugurated in 2009, with a capacity to produce 2.4 million tons per year. In 2011, we began producing clinker in the Arcos plant, which provided lower production costs. In 2015, we inaugurated two grinding mills, and in 2016, we concluded a new kiln line with a capacity of 6,500 tons per day, reaching an aggregate capacity of 4.7 million tons per year. We intend to expand our cement production capacity to 5.7 million tons per year over the next years. For information on planned investments relating to our cement activities, see “Item 4D. Property, Plant and Equipment—Acquisitions and Dispositions.”

Investments and Divestitures

In addition to our planned investments and capital expenditures, we continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities, as well as joint ventures and brownfield or greenfield projects, to improve our steel, cement and mining cost competitiveness and production, along with our logistics capabilities, logistics infrastructure and energy generation.

We also have a significant portfolio of non-core assets in each of our operating segments that are available for sale, including assets outside Brazil, that we are looking to divest in order to improve our liquidity position in the short- to medium-term, including in the form of streaming transactions related to our iron ore business and the sale of European assets and a portion of our investment in Usinas Siderúrgicas de Minas Gerais S.A., or Usiminas. These opportunities are in various stages, including, in some cases, exclusive negotiations.

Our Steel Segment

We produce carbon steel, which is the world’s most widely produced type of steel, representing the vast bulk of global consumption. From carbon steel, we sell a variety of products, both domestically and abroad, to manufacturers in several industries.

Flat Steel

Our Presidente Vargas Steelworks produces flat steel products, which comprise slabs, hot-rolled, cold-rolled, galvanized and tin mill products. For more information on our flat steel production process, see “—Production Output.”

Slabs

Slabs are semi-finished products used for processing hot-rolled, cold-rolled or coated coils and sheet products. We are able to produce continuously cast slabs with a standard thickness of 250 millimeters, widths ranging from 830 to 1,600 millimeters and lengths ranging from 5,250 to 10,500 millimeters. We produce high, medium and low carbon slabs, as well as micro-alloyed, ultra-low-carbon and interstitial free slabs. The slabs are then slitted and finished, generating blooms which are delivered to the long products plant.

Hot-Rolled Products

Hot-rolled products include heavy and light-gauge hot-rolled coils and sheets. A heavy gauge hot-rolled product, as defined by Brazilian standards, is a flat-rolled steel coil or sheet with a minimum thickness of 5.01 millimeters. We are able to provide coils of heavy gauge hot-rolled sheet with a maximum thickness of 12.70 millimeters used to manufacture automobile parts, pipes, structural beams and other construction products. We produce light gauge hot-rolled coils and sheets with a minimum thickness of 1.20 millimeters, which are used for welded pipe and tubing, automobile parts, gas containers, compressor bodies and light cold-formed shapes, channels and profiles for the construction industry.

Cold-Rolled Products

Cold-rolled products include cold-rolled coils and sheets. A cold-rolled product, as defined by Brazilian standards, is a flat cold-rolled steel coil or sheet with thickness ranging from 0.30 millimeters to 3.00 millimeters. Cold-rolled products have more uniform thickness and better surface quality when compared to hot-rolled products and their main applications are automotive parts, home appliances and construction. We supply cold-rolled coils with thickness ranging from 0.30 millimeters to 2.99 millimeters.

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Galvanized Products

Galvanized products are comprised of flat-rolled steel coated on one or both sides with zinc or a zinc-based alloy applied by either a hot-dip or an electrolytic process. We use the hot-dip process, which is approximately 20% less expensive than the electrolytic process. Galvanizing is one of the most effective and low-cost processes used to protect steel against corrosion caused by exposure to water and the atmosphere. Galvanized products are highly versatile and can be used to manufacture a broad range of products, such as:

·        automobiles, trucks and bus bodies;

·        manufactured products for the construction industry, such as panels for roofing and siding, dry wall and roofing support frames, doors, windows, fences and light structural components;

·        air ducts and parts for hot air, ventilation and cooling systems;

·        culverts, garbage containers and other receptacles;

·        storage tanks, grain bins and agricultural equipment;

·        panels and sign panels; and

·        pre-painted parts.

Galvanized sheets, both painted and bare, are also frequently used for gutters and downspouts, outdoor and indoor cabinets and home appliances, among others. We produce galvanized sheets and coils in continuous hot-dip processing lines, with thickness ranging from 0.30 millimeters to 3.00 millimeters. The continuous process allows for products with highly adherent and uniform zinc coatings capable of being processed in nearly all kinds of bending and forming machinery.

We produceGalvanew® in addition to standard galvanized products.Galvanew® is produced by an additional annealing cycle just after the zinc hot-dip coating process. This annealing process causes iron to diffuse from the base steel into the zinc coating. The resulting iron-zinc alloy coating allows better welding and paint performance. The combination of these qualities makes ourGalvanew® product particularly well suited for manufacturing automobile and home appliance parts, including high gloss exposed parts.

At CSN Paraná, one of our branches, we produceGalvalume®, a continuous Al-Zn coated material. Although the production process is similar to hot-dip galvanized coating,Galvalume® has at least twice the corrosion resistance of standard galvanized steel.Galvalume® is primarily used in outdoor construction applications that may be exposed to severe acid corrosion, like marine uses.

The value added from the galvanizing process permits us to price our galvanized products with a higher margin. Our management believes that our expertise in value-added galvanized products presents one of our best opportunities for profitable growth because of the increase in Brazilian demand for these products.

Through CSN Paraná, we also produce pre-painted flat steel, which is manufactured in a continuous painting line. In this production line, a layer of resin-based paint in a choice of colors is deposited over either cold-rolled or galvanized base materials. Pre-painted material is a higher value-added product used primarily in the construction and home appliance markets.

Tin Mill Products

Tin mill products consist of flat-rolled low-carbon steel coils or sheets with, as defined by Brazilian standards, a maximum thickness of 0.45 millimeters, coated or uncoated. We apply coatings of tin or chromium by electrolytic process. Coating costs place tin mill products among our highest priced products. The added value from the coating process permits us to price our tin mill products at a higher margin. There are four types of tin mill products, all produced by us in coil and sheet forms:

·        Tin plate – coated on one or both sides with a thin metallic tin layer plus a chromium oxide layer, covered with a protective oil film;

·        Tin free steel – coated on both sides with a very thin metallic chromium layer plus a chromium oxide layer, covered with a protective oil film;

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·        Low tin coated steel – coated on both sides with a thin metallic tin layer plus a thicker chromium oxide layer, covered with a protective oil film; and

·        Black plate – uncoated product used as the starting material for the coated tin mill products.

Tin mill products are primarily used to make cans and other containers. With six electrolytic coating lines, we are one of the largest producers of tin mill products in the world and the sole producer of coated tin mill products in Brazil.

Quality Management System

We maintain a Quality Management Systemquality management system that is certified to comply with the International Standardization Organization, or ISO, 9001:2015 standard and the automotive industry’s Technical Specification IATF 16949:2016. ISO 9001:2015 is for the design and manufacture of slabs, blooms, billets, hot-rolled flat, pickled and oiled, cold-rolled and galvanized steel, tin mill products and long steel products and IATF 16949:2016, third edition, is for the manufacture of hot-rolled flat, pickled and oiled steel products, cold-rolled and galvanized steel products. In 2019, we implemented the initial steps to obtain a Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) recognized certification, joining the GFSI Global Markets Program for the manufacture of tinplate and chromium (tin free steel) by means of electrolytic processes to supply material for production in the food and beverage packaging segments.

Production Output

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated, the annual production of crude steel in Brazil and by us and the percentage of Brazilian production attributable to us:us for the periods indicated: