Sindisider, the Brazilian steel distributors' association, released a report stating that Brazilian steel distribution companies sold 4.04 million mt of flat products in the January-November period of 2012, 1.9 percent higher compared to January-November 2011.
Distributors in Brazil sold 384,800 mt of flat steel during November, decreasing 4.1 percent compared to the previous month. However, compared to November of last year, Brazilian distributors' falt steel sales increased 7.1 percent. Brazilian steel distribution companies purchased 381,400 mt of flat steel in November, rising 9.2 percent compared to November 2011 and down 1.9 percent month on month. From January to November, purchases totaled 3.97 million mt, increasing 5.4 percent compared to the same period of 2011.
According to the report, the inventory of flat-rolled products was down by 0.4 percent compared to October at 933,500 mt. Meanwhile, imports in November rose by two percent month on month, totaling 110,400 mt. However, imports registered a 26.1 percent of decrease in November, compared to the same month in 2011. In the first 11 months of the year, Brazilian distributors' flat steel imports fell by 9.8 percent compared to the same period of 2011, amounting to 1.6 million mt.
Sindisider noted that Brazil's steel distributors association, Inda, projects six percent growth in sales of flat steel.