Two Brazilian sources told SteelOrbis that base prices for the negotiation of slab exports are unchanged from last week. One source mentioned $390/mt FOB, while the other mentioned a range of $410/mt to $430/mt FOB.
Although both sources refer to the product of the basic commercial grades, the price range reflects both differences in casting quality derived from new, state-of-the-art plants and different logistics costs associated with the location of the plants.
Brazil exported 593,200 mt of slabs in January, 20 percent more than in December 2016, at an average FOB price increased by 4.8 percent to $354/mt.
ArcelorMittal Tubarao exported 202,500 mt at $367/mt, Companhia Siderurgica do Pecem exported 184,800 mt at $324/mt, ThyssenKrupp CSA exported 154,400 mt at $378/mt and Gerdau Ouro Branco exported 51,300 mt at $335/mt, all FOB conditions, with price deals probably closed in November.
The main destinations were the US (273,200 mt at $370/mt), the EU (178,000 mt at $338/mt), Turkey (95,400 mt at $347/mt) and Asia (46,500 mt at $333/mt).
