A market source in Brazil told SteelOrbis that the current reference price for the export of Galvalume is $850/mt, FOB conditions for the AZ-150 product, stable from two weeks ago.
The scenario continues of low offer of material available for export remains, due to different stages of refurbishment of blast furnaces at the local steel producers. However, Galvalume export volume is expected to reflect a small increase in July.
The blast furnace of ArcelorMittal Tubarao could return to operations in November 2019, but under the current perspective of the steel market, it will restart operations most likely during the second half of 2020, a local source told SteelOrbis.
Meanwhile, the CEO of CSN, Benjamin Steinbruch, said in a conference with analysts that an idled blast furnace at the company’s plant in Volta Redonda will return to operation in September, following a refurbishment that, in his view, had a cost higher than expected, but will return to operation with more productivity, ascribing to higher product quality and operational margins.
ArcelorMittal and CSN are the two companies authorized by BIEC to produce Galvalume in Brazil.
In June, CSN exported 3,300 mt of Galvalume to the US at $975/mt, FOB conditions, with price deals probably closed in April, while Brazil imported 13,700 mt of the product from China at $719/mt, FOB conditions.