Brazilian HDG exports fell 67 percent in February, although imports tripled.

Brazil exported 12,400 tons of hot-dip galvanized (HDG) products in February, while the country imported 99,600 tons of HDG versus 37,500 tons and 24,900 tons, respectively, a month earlier, according to Secex, the country's foreign trade secretariat at the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.

Exports fell sharply because there were no shipments to the United States in February, compared with the 30,900 tons shipped in January, Secex said.

On the other hand, the sharp increase in imports reflects the expectation of customs clearance of Chinese material to circumvent the high anti-dumping duties applied by local authorities to imports of coated flat products from China.

Exports for February. All of them were destined for South American countries and were shipped by ArcelorMittal (8,500 tons at a price of 1,436 million US dollars) and Usiminas (3,900 tons at a price of 1,173 million US dollars), on FOB terms.

Imports came from China (94,400 tons at a price of 577 million US dollars), South Korea (2,200 tons at a price of 972 million US dollars), Egypt. (1,300 tons at $799 million), Europe (1,000 tons at $935 million) and Vietnam (700 tons at $654 million).

The increase in imports indicates attempts to clean up Chinese materials before local anti-dumping duties take effect on coated flat products from China.