Maximum Vedoya, CEO of Ternium, one of the companies of the Techint Group and the largest steel manufacturer of the region, received recognition “Steelmaker of the year” in AISTECH 2025the most important conference in the worldwide steel sector.
“Today, more than ever, our region must take actions to defend its steel industry,” said the Executive.
Vedoya warned of the impact that China’s industrial overcapacity has had and its unfair commercial practices in the North America supply chains. “Since China entered the WTO, its participation in world manufacturing went from less than 5% to more than 35%, with the aim of reaching 45% by 2030,” he warned. “This is not limited to steel: it practically affects all industrial sectors,” he said.
In this context, a call to renew and strengthen the key role of the T-MEC (the agreement that regulates trade between Mexico, the United States and Canada) to protect quality jobs, boost sustainable growth and reduce dependence on Asian imports: “The T-MEC is not just a commercial treaty, it is a shield. And today we have the opportunity to make it more effective.”
In relation to the T-MEC steel deficit with Asian nations, Vedoya emphasized that it grew significantly, from 7.5 billion dollars in the year 2000 to 37.4 billion in 2023. “This is where our greatest opportunity is: to reduce this trade deficit by relocating manufacturing in the North American region.”
The CEO also stressed the deep commercial integration between Mexico and the United States in steel matters: while in 2023 the US exported 4.1 million tons of steel finished to Mexico, it sent 2.3 million to its northern neighbor. “This shows that we are aligned in defense against unfair trade, the enemy in common is China,” he said.
According to the AIST, Vedoya stood out for the development of a new steel within its industrial complex in fishery, Mexico – one of the most advanced steel plants in the world – that will begin operations in 2026. This project, with Tenova technology, represents a multimillion -dollar investment that aims to produce 2.6 million tons of low emissions steel, oriented to the automotive industry.
On the future of the industry, Vedoya explained that it must be built in line with the most demanding standards in industrial safety and environmental care, together with communities and integrating more intelligent and efficient technologies.
The CEO thanked Ternium team for its commitment and dedicated recognition to the company’s collaborators: “Steel is not part of the past, it is the basis on which we are building the future we want,” he said.
