Brazilian slab exporters remain negotiating the shipments in May at $820/mt, FOB conditions, the same reference as last week for non-US destinations.
For exports to the US, the negotiations remain framed by a range of $850/mt to $870/mt, under the same conditions.
According to sources, higher prices were not achieved due to restraints dictated by HRC prices, as the current small difference between slab and HRC prices would result on irrelevant margins for HRC producers.
So far this year, slab export prices in Brazil have increased from $550/mt in early January to $820/mt today.