A source from a major exporter told SteelOrbis that China has resumed importing slab from Brazil, putting additional pressure on prices and helping to maintain the price for the basic commercial grades in a range of $420/mt to $430/mt, FOB conditions.
China last imported from Brazil 70,000 mt of slab in January-February 2016, halting new sales over the rest of that year and returning to imports with 5,800 mt in January 2017.
The source mentioned that reduced offer prices from Russia, due to operational problems at some plants, is also playing a role in the stabilization of prices.
“If prices are to change, I believe they would probably increase,” the source said.