According to a local market source, Brazilian producers are negotiating the export of slab to the US in a price range of $450/mt to $460/mt, FOB conditions for the basic commercial grades. The range compares with $470/mt to $480/mt FOB last week.
For other destinations, chiefly Europe, the current range is $405/mt to $410/mt, against $430/mt to $440/mt last week, under the same conditions.
The source quoted a combination of factors to explain the lower slab prices, including declining prices for steel and raw materials, as well as the import barriers in the US and in the EU.