Sales of flat steel products by the Brazilian distributors declined to 294,500 mt in February from 319,800 mt in January, according to the sector institute INDA. On a yearly basis, the decline was 5.1 percent.
Under the same comparative basis, purchases by the distributors chain in February declined to 279,000 mt from 319,800 mt in January, while the level of inventories declined by 1.9 percent to 810,200 mt, reaching the equivalent to 2.8 months of consumption, a level still considered as comfortable in historical terms.
Imports in February declined by 13.0 percent from January, reaching 154,200 mt. On yearly basis, imports increased by 1.8 percent. Such import figures include heavy plates, HRC, CRC, zinc coated, HDG, pre-painted and Galvalume.
According to INDA, expectations for March are for purchases and sales increasing by 16 percent from February, reflecting chiefly the higher number of working days during the month.