Two different sources quoted a range of $395/mt to $425/mt, FOB conditions, as the current base for negotiations for slab exports of the basic commercial grades from Brazil, reflecting no change from prices reported last week.
According to the sources, the range reflects factors such as logistic costs associated with the location of the plants or the slab quality derived from state-of-the-art casters at new plants.
The participation of Brazilian producers in the international merchant slab market is undergoing a restructuring process, whereby the Usiminas-Cosipa group, a traditional exporter, became an importer after the closure of the crude steel production at the Cosipa plant, while the Gerdau plant at Ouro Branco is reducing exports to process slab in its own facilities.
