Sales at Brazilian flat steel distributors in December increased 16.8 percent, year-on-year, to 221,000 mt, the country’s steel distributor association, Inda, said on Tuesday.
On a month-on-month comparison, sales declined 11.2 percent against November’s 248,800 mt in sales volumes.
Purchases of flat steel in December by local distributors rose 14.9 percent, year-on-year, but fell 21.2 percent, month-on-month, to 202,100 mt.
Flat steel inventory at Brazilian distributors diminished 2.1 percent in December, month-on-month, reaching 900,500 mt. Additionally, inventory turnover rose to 4.1 months in December.
Flat steel imports by distributors in December rose 64.2 percent, year-on-year, but decreased 11.7 percent, month-on-month, to 77,200 mt.
Inda said it expects both sales and purchases of flat steel by distributors to rise 15 percent in January, month-on-month.