A major slab producer in Brazil told SteelOrbis that the last deals for slab exports are being closed FOB at $400/mt for the base commercial grades, against $460/mt FOB on early January, adding that the downward price trend applies to exports for most steel products.
Reflecting reduced prices and the devaluation of the BRL, slab exports from Brazil in January went up from December by 55 percent to 608,200 mt, at an average price 3 percent lower, $455/mt FOB. The volume exported in January is the higher in monthly terms since June 2014.
The main exporters in January were ArcelorMittal Tubarao (295,600 mt at $430/mt FOB), ThyssenKrupp CSA (181,000 mt at $477/mt FOB) and Gerdau Acominas (127,400mt at $486/mt FOB), while Usiminas shipped 4,000 mt at $278/mt FOB to an Italian client.
The main destinations were the US (378,500 mt), Europe (94,300 mt) and Asia (135,400 mt).