Sales of flat steel products by Brazilian distributors increased to 311,200 mt in January, against 257,000 mt in December, according to the sector institute INDA.
Under the same comparative basis, purchases by the distributors chain in January increased to 311,200 mt from 257,000 mt, while the level of inventories increased by 1.1 percent to 825,700 mt, reaching the equivalent to 2.7 months of consumption, a level considered as comfortable in historical terms.
Imports in January increased by 6.9 percent from December, reaching 177,200 mt. Such import figures include heavy plates, HRC, CRC, zinc coated, HDG, pre-painted and Galvalume.
According to INDA, expectations for February are for purchases and sales declining by 15 percent from January, reflecting chiefly the lower number of working days during the month.