The Brazilian imports of ferromanganese of the high carbon grade went up from February by 106 percent to 2,100 mt in March, at an average FOB price of $818/mt, 3.5 percent lower.
Under the same comparative basis, imports of the low grade carbon product also went up by 106 percent to 3,700 mt, at $1,511/mt FOB, a price 3.9 percent lower.
According to sources, the increased volume reflects chiefly domestic prices increased three weeks ago by 21 percent to $921.50/mt FOB for the high carbon grade product, increasing the competitiveness of the imported material.
A major slab producer told SteelOrbis that such price remains in force so far, adding that a recent recovery of value by the BRL, around 7 percent since the last increase in $ of the ferromanganese price, gave some relief to the steel producers.