Brazilian domestic slab offers are currently negotiated at the equivalent of $370/mt FOB, against a range of $430/mt to $440/mt FOB one month ago, a local market source told SteelOrbis. The reference price range refers to the base commercial grades.
The domestic slab market in Brazil is currently estimated around 90,000 mt per month, having CSN and Usiminas as buyers, with Pecem and Ternium on the supply side. Over the coming weeks, the volume traded is expected to be reduced, with blast furnaces currently idled returning to operation.
No imports of slab were recorded at Brazilian ports in September, against 57,000 mt of slab imported in August by Usiminas from Russia at $403/mt and 200 mt from China at $828/mt, both FOB conditions and different quality grades.