Exports of pig iron by Brazilian independent producers have reached 158,000 mt in August, 36 percent less than in July, according to the country’s ministry of development, industry and foreign trade MDIC.
Exports from producers in the northern states of Para and Maranhao fetched 74,000 mt, a 54 percent drop, reflecting chiefly the suspension of exports from Para state, against 65,000 mt exported in July, while exports from Maranhao went down by 23 percent to 73,000 mt.
Exports from the producers in the southeastern states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo went down by 4 percent to 85,000mt.
The average FOB export price went up by 3 percent to $415/mt, pointing to the steelmaking grade product exported at $396/mt, while the foundry grade product was sold in the $429/mt to $484/mt range.
Producers in the state of Minas Gerais told SteelOrbis that the last deals for exports were closed FOB at $455/mt to $465/mt for the foundry grade and $420/mt, CFR in a port in the US east coast for the steelmaking grade, the equivalent FOB to $380/mt.
The main destinations of the pig iron exports in August were the US (down 40 percent at 114,000 mt), the EU (down 33 percent to 30,000 mt) and Asia (up 18 percent to 13,000 mt).