After prices for Brazilian export slab to the US recently closed in a range of $685/mt to $695/mt, FOB conditions, sources tell SteelOrbis that Brazilian domestic slab sales, chiefly to Usiminas, are reportedly being closed around the equivalent to $675/mt FOB, local sources told SteelOrbis.
Expectations by slab producers for domestic sales, for shipment in January, were previously closer to the level of $740/mt FOB.
Meanwhile, slab export offers to destinations other than the US remain around $620/mt, FOB conditions.
Regardless of the declining prices, slab producers maintain expectations for higher prices for shipments in February.
In November, Brazil exported 543,100 mt of slab and imported 34,500 mt of the product, against respectively 419,100 mt and 66,000 mt in October.
ArcelorMittal exported in November 123,500 mt at $934/mt to the US, 40,500 mt at $776/mt to Poland, 19,800 mt at $920/mt to Canada, and 19,600 mt at $495/mt to China, while Pecem exported 90,800 mt at $785/mt to Mexico, 43,700 mt at $901/mt to the United Arab Emirates, 19,100 mt at $799/mt to Canada, and 6,400 mt at $837/mt to the US.
Ternium exported 88,000 mt at $895/mt to the US, 30,500 mt at $784/mt to the Netherlands and 30,100 mt at $687/mt to Argentina, all FOB conditions. Smaller volumes were exported by CSN (20,300 mt at $940/mt to the US) and by Usiminas (10,80 0mt at $441/mt to China).
The imports were all by Usiminas from Russia, at $797/mt, also FOB conditions.