Exports of wire rod from Brazil jumped 26.2 percent in March.

Brazil's wire rod exports reached 40,900 metric tons (mt) in March, up from 32,400 mt in February, up 26.23 percent, according to the Foreign Trade Secretariat SECEX of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.

The increase mainly reflects a 50 percent increase in exports to the United States.

The destinations were South America. countries (23,900 tons at $576/t), USA (16,300 tons at $654/t) and Canada (700 tons at $842/t), FOB terms.

Exporters were ArcelorMittal (32,700 tons) and Gerdau (8,200 tons)

Brazil imported 28,500 tons of wire rod in March compared with 6,200 tonnes in February, reflecting an increase in import volumes from all previous sources.

Import sources in March included Egypt (17,100 tonnes at US$537/t), China (8,900 tonnes at US$473/t), Russia (1,700 tonnes at US$488/t) and Europe (800 tonnes at US$925/t), also subject to FOB.