According to INDA, Brazil’s flat steel distributors sold 314,000 mt in April, down from 351,900 mt in March.
In the same comparison basis, purchases by INDA-linked distributors fell 6.1 percent to 333,000 mt, while inventories rose 1.7 percent to 1.157 million mt. This equals 3.7 months of consumption, up from 3.2 months in March and well above the sector’s 2.8-month benchmark.
April imports fell 38.6 percent to 166,600 mt, including heavy plate, HRC, CRC, zinc-coated, HDG, pre-painted, and galvalume products.
Compared with April 2025, April 2026 sales slipped 1 percent, purchases rose 4 percent, and imports dropped a sharp 43.2 percent.
INDA expects purchases and sales to rise 10 percent in May 2026 compared with April 2026.
INDA president Carlos Loureiro said the antidumping measures adopted by the federal government in February are already starting to have an effect.
He said last month’s import volume, 43 percent lower than in April 2025, points to a shift in market behavior.
Loureiro also noted that imports in the first four months of the year were 1.9 percent lower than in the same period of 2025.
He believes hot rolled coils (HRC) will also face antidumping duties in June, which could reduce Brazil’s total steel imports in 2026 by 20 percent year over year.
