The Brazilian domestic price of Galvalume, BRL3,200/mt ($1,040/mt), FOB all taxes except IPI, is stable in Brazil since a 13.5 percent increase five weeks ago, a major distributor in the south of the country told SteelOrbis.
He added that sales actually went down in volume, mentioning that he is not sure if the reduction should be ascribed to the new price or to the poor performance of the local economy.
“Probably a combination of both factors, but reducing prices would not increase sales significantly,” he said.
Meanwhile, the country’s imports of Galvalume went up in March from February by 87 percent to 21,400 mt, almost entirely from China, at an average stable FOB price of $736/mt.
According to figures by the country’s ministry of development, industry and foreign trade, MDIC, ArcelorMittal exported from Brazil 4,500 mt of Galvalume to Argentina, at an average FOB price of $898/mt.