According to a market source in Brazil, exports of slab to the US remain negotiated at $540/mt, FOB conditions for the basic commercial grades, the same reference price over the last three weeks.
The source confirms that the focus of slab producers remains with the sales to the US, with few sales efforts directed to other destinations, in a move reflecting the higher prices to the US.
A second local market source mentioned negotiations for non-US destinations at $450/mt, under the same conditions.
In April, Ternium exported 343,000 mt of slab from Brazil at $484/mt, Pecem exported 172,700 mt at $519/mt and ArcelorMittal exported 23,000 mt at $491/mt, all FOB conditions, different quality grades and price deals probably closed in February.
Preliminary indications from the country’s customs authorities point to a decline in May from the 538,700 mt of slab exported from Brazil in April.
