The Brazilian slab exports to the US are being negotiated in a price range of $450/mt to $460/mt, FOB conditions for the basic commercial grades, the same range as last week, a local market source told SteelOrbis.
For other destinations, chiefly Europe and Latin America, the current range is also the same as last week, $405/mt to $410/mt, under the same conditions, the source added.
According to the source, slab prices are being affected by the steel import barriers imposed by the US and more recently by the EU. In his view, the development of such issues should affect prices in the near future, depending on the outcome.
In December, Brazil exported 214,900 mt of slab to the US at $516/mt, 109,800 mt at $478/mt to Asia, 98,100/mt at $503/mt to the EU, 80,000 mt at $472/mt to Turkey, and 30,800 mt at $524/mt to Canada, all FOB conditions with price deals probably closed in October.