According to the Brazilian National Iron and Steel Institute (IBS), Brazil's steel imports in May 2009 reached 217,212 metric tons, increasing by 18.2 percent year on year and totaling approximately US$245 million in value, while the country's steel exports amounted to 592,900 mt, down 19 percent year on year and generating a value of US$283 million.
In the January-May period of 2009, Brazil's steel imports amounted to 928,000 metric tons, up 5.6 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, while in the period in question steel exports totaled 2.70 million metric tons, decreasing by 36.5 percent year on year.
The below graphic illustrates the composition of Brazil's steel imports and exports in January-May 2009.
