Brazil exported 5,200 metric tons (mt) of plates in March, up from 27,000 mt in February, according to SECEX, the foreign trade secretariat of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.
The decline reflects lower shipments to all previous destinations, including no exports in March to the United States, compared with 5,400 mt shipped in February.
March exports were headed to South America (4900 tons at $886/ton) and to Trinidad and Tobago (300 tons at $688/ton) FOB.
Exporters were Usiminas (3600 tons), ArcelorMittal (900 tons), CSN (400 tons) and Gerdau. (300 tons).
Brazil imported just 1,500 tons of plates in March, down from 17,200 tons in February, reflecting lower supplies from all previous sources.
Imports were from China (1,100 tons at US$634 per ton) and Europe (400 tons at US$1,446 per ton), as well as FOB. conditions.
Imports from Europe refer to special grades of steel not produced in Brazil.
