Mexican domestic HRC price rose US$7/mt compared to the previous week, to reach US$728/mt ex-mill.
Prices are expected to maintain this slight uptrend in the coming months, although sources expect greater movement in the second half of the year. However, prices might also be impacted by increasing competition between mills and service centers and distributors.
Automotive manufacturers, on the other hand, are not expected to be affected, as mills typically provide product to them without intermediaries. So while the automotive sector represents significant demand for flat steel, prices for them will tend to homogenize.