According to sources, the Brazilian arm of ArcelorMittal has plans to set up a cold rolling line in its Tubarão plant, in the southeastern state of Espirito Santo.
The new line would have an estimated yearly production capacity of 1.5 million mt, which would be added to current production of slab and HRC of the plant.
According to the local press, the project was expected to be announced in 2024, but with the surge of CRC imports in Brazil, the company is considering the postponement of the announcement, in the hope of better market conditions in the future.
During the first nine months of 2023, Brazil imported 253,300 mt of CRC, against 176,000 mt during the same period of 2022.
The steel industry in Brazil is asking the authorities to impose an import tax of 25 percent for all steel products, as an alternative to reduce imports, chiefly from China, which in their view is made at dumped prices.
The current level of import tax for steel products in Brazil is in the range of 9.6 to 12 percent.
