Brazilian sales of flat steel products by local distributors increased by 0.1 percent, year-on-year, in December to 221,200 mt, the country’s steel distributors association, Inda, said this week.
In a monthly analysis, sales of flat steel by Brazilian distributors in December declined 13.1 percent, month-on-month, from 254,400 mt in November.
Distributors’ flats inventory in December dropped 0.8 percent, month-on-month, to 900,400 mt. Inventory turnover rose to 4.1 months in December from 3.6 months in November.
Inda said imports of flat steel in December by local distributors grew 8.1 percent, year-on-year, but declined 6.7 percent, month-on-month, to 83,400 mt.
Inda forecasted that both sales and purchases of flat steel in January by Brazilian distributors should rise 12 percent, month-on-month.