According to sources, Brazilian producers have negotiated the last slab export deals for shipments in May at $620/mt, FOB conditions for the basic commercial grades.
Sources mentioned that at least one deal was closed at such price, which compares to $630/mt last week and $645/mt three weeks ago, in a consistent decline since January, reflecting reduced HRC prices in different world regions.
Conversations for shipments in June are expected to start next week, having the same $620/mt as guideline for the negotiations.
In February, Brazil exported 369,200 mt and imported 93,600 mt of slab.
Preliminary numbers remain pointing to Brazilian slab exports in March exceeding the volume exported in February, while during the first four weeks of March a volume around 70,000 mt of slab has cleared customs in Brazilian ports.