Brazilian sales of flat steel by local distributors in January rose 27.6 percent, month-on-month, reaching 241,500 mt, the nation’s steel distributors association, Inda, said on Tuesday.
According to Inda, despite the rise of sales in the month-on-month comparison, flat steel sales by local distributors in January declined 22.4 percent, year-on-year.
Purchases of steel by local distributors in the first month of the year rose 38.8 percent, month-on-month, but declined 23.8 percent, year-on-year, to 244,200 mt.
Inventories in January slightly rose 0.3 percent, month-on-month, while stock turnover in January declined to 3.8 months, Inda said.
Imports of steel by local distributors in January declined 35.3 percent, month-on-month, and 81.6 percent, year-on-year, totaling 30,400 mt.
Inda said both sales and purchases of steel in February should remain stable when compared to January.