Brazilian flat steel sales by distributors rose 5.3 percent in January, year-on-year, and 10.4 percent, month-on-month, to 279,400 mt, the country’s local steel distributor association (Inda) said on Wednesday.
Inda said purchases of flat steel products by Brazilian distributors in the first month of the year increased 2.6 percent, year-on-year, and 2.1 percent, month-on-month, to 297,300 mt.
Flats inventory at distributors grew 2.2 percent in January, month-on-month, to 818,100 mt. Inventory turnover in January reached 2.9 months.
Distributors’ flat steel imports in January rose 19.6 percent, year-on-year, and 97.6 percent, month-on-month, to 106,200 mt.
Inda estimated both the purchase of flats by local distributors in February to remain stable as compared to January, on a month-on-month analysis.