According to sources, Brazilian producers are offering slab exports for shipments to the US having $750/mt, FOB conditions for the basic commercial grades, as the base for negotiations.
Last week, players were considering a range of $700/mt to $720/mt as the base of negotiations, but expectations have increased with higher HRC prices in the US market.
The new base price refers to the first shipments in March, but it is not clear so far if a deal was effectively closed at that level.
In December, Ternium shipped 237,300 mt of slab at $613/mt to the US, ArcelorMittal Tubarao shipped 155,500 mt at $560/mt to the US and 13,300 mt at $500/mt to Polland and ArcelorMittal Pecem shipped 39,300 mt at $597/mt to the US and 20,700 mt at $545/mt to France, all FOB conditions and price deals probably closed in October.
Meanwhile, Usiminas imported in December 27,200 mt of slab from Russia at $508/mt, also FOB conditions.