According to Brazil's trade and industry ministry, imports of long steel products totaled 43,000 mt in December 2010, while flat steel imports were 287,000 over the same period.
Imports of flat-rolled products were also higher in the beginning of 2010 as flat steel premiums in the country made Brazil-made steel as much as 45 percent more expensive than imported products. The premiums were cut later in the year due to pressure from Brazilian steelmakers.
Total imports of steel products from January-November 2010 totaled 5.46 million mt compared to 2.11 million mt from January-November 2009. The increase has been largely attributed to a continuously appreciating real (Brazil's national currency), elevated local steel prices and heightening steel demand in the country. Figures for all of 2010 have not yet been confirmed according to the Brazilian Steel Institute (IABr).