According to sources, Brazilian producers remain negotiating slab export deals for shipments in May at $630/mt, the same as last week, FOB conditions for the basic commercial grades. This week the last deals for slab shipments in May are expected to be closed.
This price compares to $645/mt two weeks ago as the guideline for the export negotiations, in a decline, since January, reflecting lower HRC prices in most world regions, according to analysts.
In February, Brazil exported 369,200 mt and imported 93,600 mt of slab.
Preliminary numbers are now 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.