Brazil exported 11,300 mt of heavy plates in April, against 5,200 mt in March, according to SECEX, the foreign trade secretariat of the ministry of development, industry and foreign trade.
Although posting sharply higher levels against March, the volume of April remains low when compared with the average volumes reported over the past several months, reflecting again the absence of the US as an export destination.
April exports were all destined for South American countries, shipped by Usiminas (10,700 mt at $559/mt), CSN (300 mt at $842/mt), Gerdau (200 mt at $595/mt) and traders (100 mt at $882/mt), all FOB conditions.
Imports increased by 47 percent to 2,200 mt in April against 1,500 mt in March, shipped by China (1,500 mt at $608/mt), Italy (500 mt at $847/mt) and Portugal (300 mt at $912/mt).
Brazil’s heavy plate imports generally consist of special steel grades that are not produced domestically because production is not economically viable at the required scale.
