Sales of flat steel products by the Brazilian distributors have reached 338,700 mt in June, 7.3 percent more than in May, according to the sector institute INDA.
Under the same comparative basis, acquisitions by the distributors chain increased by 12.3 percent to 352,900 mt, while the level of inventories increased by 1.5 percent to 929,500 mt, reaching the equivalent to 2.7 months of consumption, a level considered as comfortable by the sector.
Imports in June declined from May by 0.6 percent, reaching 211,200 mt, including heavy plates, HRC, CRC, zinc coated, HDG, pre-painted, and Galvalume.
In comparison to June 2023, sales increased by 19.0 percent, acquisitions increased by 20.2 percent, and imports increased by 4.9 percent.
For July 2024, expectations by INDA are for acquisitions and sales declining by 1.5 percent from June.
Speaking in a conference with analysts, the president of INDA, Carlos Loureiro, mentioned that Gerdau and CSN have recently raised the price of their products in a range of 7 to 8 percent, while ArcelorMittal and Usiminas have not yet made a similar announcement.