Slab offers in the Brazilian domestic market are currently negotiated at the equivalent FOB price range of $430/mt to $440/mt, against $425/mt one month ago, referring to the base commercial grades.
Sources mentioned that CSN and Usiminas, which are currently outsourcing part of their slab supply to feed their rolling operations, are facing problems with the local acquisition of slab, as domestic producers are focused on exports to the US to fulfill the second quarter quota of US section 232 regulations.
No imports of slab have reached the Brazilian ports in January, for the fifth consecutive month.