Brazilian producers are negotiating slab of the basic commercial grades for export in a price range of $460/mt to $470/mt, FOB conditions, against a range of $450/mt to $460/mt last week, a local exporter told SteelOrbis.
The source mentioned that there is a clear distinction of prices, with slab from the plant located in the north of the country, Pecem, priced higher than slab from plants in the southeast, due to lower freight rates to the US and Europe.
The source added that new deals are covering exports scheduled for late-February and March 2018.
In November, Companhia Siderurgica do Pecem exported slab at $487/mt, Ternium Brazil at $444/mt, ArcelorMittal Tubarao at $481/mt and Gerdau Acominas at $437/mt, all FOB conditions, with price deals probably closed in September.
Fresh numbers from the Brazilian customs authorities point to the volume of slab exports in December increasing significantly from the 570,000 mt exported in November.