Brazilian flat steel distributor sales in February rose 19.3 percent, year-on-year, and 16.8 percent, month-on-month, to 309,800 mt, according to local flat distributors association, Inda.
Purchases of flat steel by local distributors in February fell 7.1 percent, year-on-year, and 17.3 percent, month-on-month, to 239,500 mt.
Flat steel inventory in the second month of the year dropped 7.3 percent, month-on-month, to 893,300 mt. Inventory turnover in February declined to 2.9 months, from 4.6 months in January this year.
Brazilian flat steel imports by local distributors in February rose 54.8 percent, year-on-year, and 6 percent, month-on-month, to 94,200 mt.
Inda estimated both the sales and purchases of flat steel by Brazilian distributors in March should decrease 5 percent on a month-on-month basis.