Sales of flat products by Brazilian distributors reached 293,900 metric tons (t) in January 2026 from 248,300 t in December 2025, an increase of 18.36 percent, according to INDA, the Brazilian institute of steel distributors.
On the same comparative basis, purchases by INDA-affiliated distributors fell 2.3 percent to 291,300 tons, while inventory levels fell 0.2 percent to 1.127 million tons, equivalent to 3.8 months of consumption, considered high in the sector as it exceeds the 2.8 months benchmark.
January imports increased 9.7 percent to 225,600 tons, including heavy plates, HRC products, CRC, galvanized, HDG, pre painted and Galvalume.
Compared to January 2025, January 2026 sales were down 8.2 percent, acquisitions were down 14.8 percent, and imports were down 6.6 percent.
INDA expects February 2026 acquisitions to be down 6 percent and sales down 4 percent compared to January 2026.
Commenting recent imposition of anti-dumping duties on CRC and coated flat products imported from China, Carlos Loureiro, executive president of INDA, said that due to the high volumes involved, there will be some supply challenges in the short term, mainly related to the availability of products and competitive ocean freight rates.
