About us

Our History

Over 120 years ago, we sowed our first seed as Gerdau, with the startup of the Pregos Pontas de Paris nail factory in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Today, we still produce nails, as well as the innumerous steel goods being developed every day by our creative minds. It is this legacy that drives us to keep contributing to building a new future. Learn more about our history!

  • 1901

    Cia. Fábrica de Pregos Pontas de Paris

    João Gerdau acquires Cia. Fábrica de Pregos Pontas de Paris in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil).

  • 1948

    Riograndense mill

    Gerdau assumes control of Riograndense mill, in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), launching its steel production.

  • 1963

    Gerdau Foundation is established

    Inauguration ceremony of the Gerdau Foundation, in 1963. Roberto Nickhorn, Curt Johannpeter and Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter.

  • 1969

    Açonorte mill

    Inauguration of Açonorte mill, in Pernambuco (Brazil).

  • 1971

    Inauguration in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states

    Opening of first branch office of Comercial Gerdau in São Paulo.

    Inauguration of Gerdau Cosigua mill in Rio de Janeiro.

  • 1980

    Siderúrgica Laisa

    Start of Gerdau’s international expansion with the acquisition of Siderúrgica Laisa, in Uruguay.

  • 1983

    Brazilian multinational company

    Dr. Germano, Dr. Klaus, Dr. Jorge and Dr. Frederico assume Gerdau’s leadership with a commitment to create a Brazilian multinational company.

  • 1988

    Barão de Cocais mill

    Gerdau wins auction for Barão de Cocais mill, in Minas Gerais (Brazil).

  • 1989

    Courtice Steel Canada

    Gerdau enters the North American market with the acquisition of Courtice Steel, in Canada.

  • 1992

    Siderúrgica Piratini and GG 50

    Gerdau enters the special steel segment with the purchase of Siderúrgica Piratini, in Charqueadas, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil).

    Launch of GG 50, the first branded rebar with a quality guarantee.

  • 1997

    Açominas and Argentina

    Gerdau partners with Açominas, at the current complex in Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais (Brazil).

    Gerdau enters Argentina with a factory in the province of Santa Fé.

  • 1999

    Stock Exchange

    Gerdau stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

  • 2001

    100 years of Gerdau

    Gerdau assumes control of Ameristeel, in the United States.

    Gerdau completes 100 years and joins the select group of centenarian companies.

  • 2005

    Gerdau Institute

    Launch of Gerdau Institute, responsible for coordinating the company’s social investment policies and guidelines.

  • 2006

    Siderperu

    Gerdau arrives in Peru with the acquisition of Siderperu.

  • 2007

    Feld Group México

    Gerdau acquires Feld group and enters the Mexican market.

    Gerdau’s fourth succession process is completed with André Gerdau Johannpeter becoming CEO and Claudio Johannpeter COO, marking the family’s fifth generation in executive management.

  • 2009

    Iron ore production

    Startup of iron ore production in Minas Gerais (Brazil).

  • 2013

    Flat steel

    Startup of flat steel production at the plant in Ouro Branco, Minas Gerais (Brazil).

  • 2014

    Culture Transformation

    Launch of Gerdau’s cultural transformation, which includes revising the work structure and model to become more agile and less hierarchical.

  • 2018

    Empowering people

    Gerdau appoints first CEO from outside the founding family. Gustavo Werneck is named CEO, substituting André Gerdau Johannpeter.

    Launch of our purpose: Empowering people who build the future.

    Conclusion of divestment cycle of assets in India and focus on operations in the Americas.

  • 2020

    Gerdau Next

    Another member of the family’s fifth generation is named Chairman of the Board, Guilherme Gerdau Johannpeter.

    Launch of Gerdau Next, the Gerdau arm focusing on new businesses.

  • 2021

    Gerdau Graphene

    Launch of Gerdau Graphene, a company engaged in developing products with graphene applications.

    Commitment to a new clean and renewable energy matrix, with announcement of the construction of photovoltaic complexes in Minas Gerais (Brazil) and Texas (United States).

Gerdau

How will we build things in the future? What solutions need to be developed to ensure the prosperity of tomorrow’s generations? These and many other questions are in the minds and hearts of our employees who, together with our clients, suppliers and other partners, are creating, coordinating and developing products and services to meet the world’s most urgent needs. Sustainability and innovation are the engines that drive the search for new solutions in an increasingly open and collaborative environment.

Today, we are Brazil’s largest steel producing multinational. Our products are used in various segments, such as construction, vehicles, machines, ships, energy… Wherever you look, you see Gerdau. And we want to go even further.

Prepared to move beyond steel, we have a new business arm, Gerdau Next, which develops, holds interests in or controls companies in the construction, logistics, infrastructure and renewable energy sectors, as well as in accelerating and investing in startups.

10 principles

To build our long history, we believe in empowering people, valuing talent, diversity, safety and ethics. We work to create and share value with everyone with whom we connect, always based on our 10 principles.

  • Safety above all

  • Do what is right

  • Ownership mindset

  • Simplicity

  • Diverse and inclusive environment

  • Generate value for all

  • We are customer-centric

  • We are all leaders

  • Openness with truth and respect

  • We raise the bar

Learn about our history

Operations

Over 120 years ago, we began our story in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), as a nail factory. Since then, we have become the largest Brazilian steel producer, with operations in various countries throughout the Americas and with a strong commitment to the future of our country and to industrial development. See key numbers and our international footprint.

Gerdau in numbers

  • 29 steel production units.
  • Around 30,000 employees worldwide.
  • 2 iron ore mines .
  • 250,000 hectares of forest base, including eucalyptus plantations and preservation areas.
  • Presence in 7 countries of Americas.
  • +70 stores of Comercial Gerdau.
  • Largest recycler of ferrous scrap in Latin America: every year, Gerdau transforms 11 million tonnes of scrap into steel at its operations in Brazil and the world.
  • Listed on the São Paulo and New York stock exchanges.
  • Net sales: R$ 14,7 billion.

*Source: Gerdau Annual Report 2023

Gerdau Port Terminal

Gerdau Port Terminal

With operating capacity of over 9 million tonnes, the Gerdau Port Terminal is strategically located at the Praia Mole Complex in Espírito Santo state (Brazil) and has direct access to highways and a rail connection with five other five states (BA, GO, MG, RJ and SP).

The port is one of the region’s most important outflows for commercial purposes and distributing local production, such as steel goods, ornamental rocks and general cargo. Macroprocesses include inflow, storage, movement and loading, guided by safety, ethics and commitment to the client.

The Gerdau Port Terminal provides a complete opportunity for you company to load various kinds of cargo for export to South American countries or shipment to other Brazilian ports (cabotage).

  • 3 mooring berths
  • 13.5 m ship draft
  • 630 m quay length
  • 5 of 42-tonne gantry cranes
  • 3 of 25-tonne rotating loaders
  • 358,126m² cargo storage area
  • 79,000 m2 storage area (27,000 m2 covered area)
  • Team trained in LEAN methodology to reduce costs and gain productivity
  • Harbor security, scale / trustee, labor (lashing)
  • ISPS CODE Seal to protect people and goods against terrorist attacks

Contact us

The port continues open to contribute to Brazil’s economic development and can serve as a strategic platform for other cargo. For more information and quotes, send an e-mail to: comercialportos@gerdau.com.br

Ethics & Compliance

Gerdau’s commitment to compliance with legislation and guidelines is translated by our Integrity Program and Code of Ethics & Conduct. The program aims to detect and mitigate internal and external risks that could affect the business. Our Code of Ethics formalizes Gerdau’s obligations to legal compliance, operational execution and solid and transparent governance before society.

We also follow an anticorruption policy and guidelines for relations with government agents, donations and sponsorships, compliance-risk agreements, business courtesies and disciplinary sanctions.

The Compliance Policy and the Anticorruption Policy encompass the Integrity Program and Gerdau’s actions to disseminate its culture of ethical conduct, combating corruption, guaranteeing anti-bribery practices and compliance with all laws and regulations. It is following values like these that create value and peace of mind for all stakeholders, especially employees, suppliers, service providers, clients, shareholders, governments, communities and regulatory and supervisory agencies.

Access these documents in our Download Center (in Portuguese).

All these documents and our policies are aligned with the ten principles that form the foundation of our purpose: empowering people who build the future.

Learn about our 10 principles

Ethics Channel

Use the channels below to report ethical concerns and resolve questions related to the Code of Ethics.

Digital Transformation:
A path in which we believe

How can we accompany and anticipate our clients’ needs to offer solutions in products and services for the various sectors in which we operate? To us, this can only be achieved by innovation and digital transformation. This journey has enabled us to improve production processes, reduce costs and increase efficiency while gaining agility and becoming more competitive.

Learn about our digital transformation goals:

• Industry 4.0, seeking greater safety and productivity.

• Integration of supply chain, with focus on client.

• Client journey to offer the best possible experience.

Optimization of raw materials.

Next generation sales.