Brazil exported 321,100 mt of pig iron in December, twice the volume of November, according to the ministry of development, industry and foreign trade, MDIC.
The increased volume reflects exports to the US increased by 104 percent to 166,800 mt and exports to Latin American countries increased to 113,400 mt in December from 10,800 mt in November.
Shipments to Asian countries increased by 76 percent to 20,135 mt, while shipments to the EU declined by 66 percent to 19,300 mt.
Exports by the producers in the north of the country increased by 367 percent to 235,000 mt, while exports from producers in the southeastern states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo declined by 39 percent to 66,700 mt.
The average FOB export price declined by 18.5 percent to $181/mt, pointing to the steelmaking grade product exported in average at $173/mt, a 17.1 percent decrease, and the drawing grade product exported at $217/mt, a 2.9 percent decrease, both FOB conditions.
A producer in the state of Maranhao told SteelOrbis that his last export deal for the steelmaking grade product was closed at $195/mt, CFR conditions for the US and Mexico, a price translated into $185/mt FOB conditions under logistics costs of $10/mt.