A distributor in south Brazil told SteelOrbis that he is selling heavy plates with more than 10mm in thickness, basic commercial grades, at BRL2,200/mt ($611/mt), FOB, full taxes except IPI, a price reduced in BRL by 1.3 percent in one month.
But in US dollar terms, the reduction was 12.8 percent, considering the equivalent price of $702/mt, same conditions, one month ago.
The source mentioned that the reduction of price was an attempt to increase sales in a difficult market, with a reduction in the volume sold of 30 percent on yearly basis, reflecting a downturn for most industrial sectors, chiefly shipyards.
Meanwhile, a source linked to Usiminas told SteelOrbis that the company is still selling plates of the basic commercial grades in the domestic market at the equivalent to $650/mt, ex-works, no taxes included, the same reference price since March.
In July Brazil exported plates at an average FOB price of $596/mt, with a wide variety of prices, ranging from $272/mt to Vietnam to $935/mt to South American countries, price deals probably closed on May.
1 US$ = BRL 3.60