Different sources informed SteelOrbis of a range of $390/mt to $410/mt, FOB conditions, for the negotiations for slab exports of the basic commercial grades in Brazil. The price range compares with $400/mt to $410/mt FOB two weeks ago.
One of the sources, linked to a slab producer, said that prices have reached a point of equilibrium and should not increase further, reflecting the downtrend in coal prices, which were ultimately pushing steel prices.
A second source, linked to a local exporter, mentioned that the price range of slab could reflect the intrinsic quality of the slab produced by the new steel plants, such as ThyssenKrupp CSA and Companhia Siderurgica do Pecem, with state-of-the-art steelmaking and casting operations.
In December, ArcelorMittal exported 193,000 mt of slab at $345/mt, Companhia Siderurgica do Pecem, inaugurated in 2016, exported 158,100 mt at $310/mt and ThyssenKrupp CSA exported 143,000 mt at $359/mt, all FOB conditions, with price deals probably closed in October.
The main destinations were the US (156,000 mt at $361/mt) and Turkey (147,000 mt at $321/mt), while 97,400 mt at $350/mt was shipped to the EU and 93,800 mt at $312/mt went to Asian countries (all prices FOB conditions).