According to sources, Brazilian producers are negotiating slab export deals for shipments in May at $630/mt, FOB conditions for the basic commercial grades. At least one deal was effectively closed at that level.
However, the price compares to $645/mt last week as the guideline for the export negotiations, in a decline reflecting lower HRC prices in most world regions, according to sources.
In February, Brazil exported 369,200 mt of slab, in average at $660/mt, and imported 93,600 mt of the product at $468/mt, against respectively 575,400 mt at $605/mt and 23,400 at $462/mt in January, FOB conditions.
Preliminary numbers are pointing to Brazilian slab exports of March in line with the volume exported in February, while during the first two weeks of March no slab imports have cleared customs in Brazilian ports.
