Brazil exported 44,300 mt of hot dipped galvanized products (HDG) in April, against 10,300 mt in March, according to Secex, the country`s foreign trade secretariat of the ministry of development, industry and foreign trade.
The increase reflects a 37,600 mt shipment of Usiminas to Argentina, against 10,300 mt in March. All the shipments were destined to South American countries, in average at $1,013/mt, FOB conditions.
The exporters were Usiminas (39,000 mt at $1,013/mt), and ArcelorMittal (5,300 mt at $1,017/mt). Meanwhile, Brazil imported 19,900 mt of HDG in April, comparable with 67,800 mt in March.
The sharp drop reflects the near halt in imports of coated flat steel products from China after Brazilian authorities imposed antidumping duties on those products.
HDG imports from China fell from 64,500 mt in March to 7,900 mt in April, and further declines are expected.
The origin of the HDG imports in April were Asia (19,200 mt at $765/mt), and Europe (700 mt at $1,317/mt), also FOB conditions.