Brazilian flat steel distributor sales in the first month of the year declined 19.5 percent, year-on-year, but increased 21.2 percent, month-on-month, to 228,600 mt, the nation’s flat steel distributors association, Inda, said on Tuesday.
According to Inda, purchases of flat steel products by local distributors in January grew 3.7 percent, year-on-year, and 32.6 percent, month-on-month, to 261,000 mt. Flat steel inventory in January improved 3.5 percent, month-on-month, to 971,800 mt. Inventory turnover in January decreased to 4.6 months, from 5 months in December.
Brazilian imports of flat steel products by distributors in January reached 88,800 mt, 24.9 percent down, year-on-year, and 6.4 percent down, on a month-on-month basis.
Inda estimated both the sales and purchases of flat steel by local distributors in February to remain stable on a month-on-month analysis.