Brazilian pig iron independent producers exported 279,100 mt of the product in June, 14.4 percent more than In May, according to the country’s ministry of industry, development and foreign trade, MDIC.
The average FOB price went down by 7 percent to $259/mt, pointing to a range of $226/mt to $252/mt for the steelmaking grade product, while the foundry grade was exported at $297/mt, with some special grades exported at up to $388/mt, all FOB conditions.
Exports by the producers in the northern states of Para and Maranhao went up by 107 percent to 183,800 mt, while exports from the producers in the southeastern states of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo went down by 42 percent to 90,200 mt.
Vetorial Siderurgia, located in the Central Western state of Mato Grosso do Sul, has shipped 5,100 mt of steelmaking grade pig iron to Argentina at $226/mt, FOB conditions, in its first export deal so far in the year.
The main destinations in June were the US (136,400 mt at $254/mt), Mexico (68,000 mt at $232/mt), the EU (42,800 mt at $297/mt) and Asian countries (25,300 mt at $296/mt), all FOB conditions.
In the Brazilian domestic market, the steelmaking grade product is currently sold at $273/mt (FOB, no taxes included, only PIS Cofins levies), while the foundry grade is sold at $367/mt (FOB, full taxes except IPI), according to different producers in the southeast, which added that volumes involved are not relevant, given the difficult situation of the country’s economy.