Sales of flat steel products by Brazilian distributors increased to 370,300 mt in March from 294,500 mt in February, according to the sector institute INDA. On a yearly basis, there was a decline of 3.3 percent.
Under the same comparative basis, purchases by the distributors chain in March increased to 360,700 mt from 279,000 mt in February, while the level of inventories declined by 1.2 percent to 800,600 mt, reaching the equivalent to 2.2 months of consumption, against 2.8 months in February, a level considered as comfortable in historical terms.
Imports in March increased by 13.0 percent from February, reaching 167,100 mt. On yearly basis, imports increased by 33.3 percent. Such import figures include heavy plates, HRC, CRC, zinc coated, HDG, pre-painted and Galvalume.
According to INDA, expectations for April are for purchases and sales declining by 11 percent from March.