Sources linked to the Brazilian steel producers Usiminas and ThyssenKrupp CSA told SteelOrbis that $290/mt is the base FOB price for negotiations, since early July, for the exports of slabs of the basic commercial grades.
CSA is reportedly operating at a 4.5 million mt per year pace, from a capacity of 5.0 million mt per year.
The source linked to CSA mentioned that the plant is operating at a pace in line with the international demand and is having no difficulties in selling its entire production.
CSA has part of its production committed for sale to the Alabama rolling plant, previously owned by ThyssenKrupp, and to operations of the group in Germany.
For its turn, Usiminas is not a major player in the merchant slab market, with export sales of the product made on a spot basis.
In July, CSA exported its slabs at an average FOB price of $335/mt, while Usiminas exported at $305/mt, price deals probably closed on May.