Brazilian sales of flat steel products by local distributors in April declined 13.2 percent, year-on-year, and 15.9 percent, month-on-month, to 213,700 mt, the nation’s steel distributors association, Inda, said on Wednesday.
Inda said purchases of flat steel products by local distributors in April fell 8.7 percent, year-on-year, and 23 percent, month-on-month, to 221,300 mt.
The month-on-month sales and purchases decline in April surpassed the 8 percent decline estimate Inda unveiled last month for both the sales and purchases of flats for the month of April.
Meanwhile, inventories in April rose 0.8 percent, month-on-month, to 959,100 mt. Inventory turnover in April improved to 4.5 months, from 3.7 months in March.
Imports of flat steel by local distributors in April grew 58 percent, yearon-year, but dropped 33.8 percent, month-on-month, to 72,900 mt.
Inda said it expects purchases of flat steel products to remain “stable” in May, on a month-on-month basis, while sales of flats should increase 10 percent in the same period.