According to a market source in Brazil, exports of slab to the US are currently negotiated at $540/mt, FOB conditions for the basic commercial grades, the same reference price over the last two weeks.
The focus of the slab producers remains with the sales to the US, with few sales efforts directed to other destinations, in a move reflecting the higher prices in the US, the source added.
A second source mentioned negotiations for non-US destinations at $450/mt under the same conditions.
In April, Brazil exported 538,700 mt of slab, of which 509,800 mt to the US at $496/mt, 27,700 mt to Mexico at $490/mt, and 1,200 mt to the Czech Republic at $445/mt, all FOB conditions, with price deals probably closed in February.