In the first quarter of this year, Brazilian steel imports totaled 866,200 metric tons, decreasing by 34.3 percent as compared to January-March 2010, according to the Brazil Steel Institute (IABr).
Accordingly, in the first three months of this year Brazil's flat steel imports declined by 44.7 percent to 500,200 metric tons, while its long steel imports amounted to 258,000 metric tons, down 11.4 percent, both compared to Q1 2010.
On the other hand, in March this year, Brazil's total steel product imports totaled 265,500 metric tons, decreasing by 53.7 percent year on year. Of this total, long steel imports amounted to 67,900 metric tons - down 35.5 percent, while flat steel imports came to 162,600 - down 61.5 percent.