Sales of flat steel products by Brazilian distributors declined to 323,300 mt in September from 343,400 mt in August, according to the sector institute INDA.
Under the same comparative basis, purchases by the distributors chain increased by 6.6 percent to 322,800 mt, while the level of inventories increased by 0.1 percent to 843,400 mt, reaching the equivalent to 2.6 months of consumption, a level considered as comfortable when compared to the historical average of 3.0 months of consumption.
Imports of flat steel purchased by distributors in September increased by 34.1 percent from August, reaching 309,800 mt, including heavy plates, HRC, CRC, zinc coated, HDG, pre-painted and Galvalume.
According to INDA, expectations for October point to purchases and sales increasing by 5 percent from September.
Speaking in a conference with analysts, the president of Inda, Carlos Loureiro, mentioned that the price premium of HRC in the Brazilian domestic market, when compared to the imported product after clearing customs, is now in a range of 15 to 16 percent, against 13 to 14 percent one month ago, remaining higher than the historical level of 10 percent, although reduced from peaks of 35 percent achieved during recent months.