Brazilian slab exports reached 390,500 tons in May, up from 687,500 tons in April, according to Secex, the foreign trade secretariat of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.
Ternium exported 236,300 tons at US$614 per tonne to the US, while ArcelorMittal Tubarão exported 93,800 tonnes at US$646 per tonne to the United States and 60,400 tonnes at US$556 per tonne to France, all FOB.
The 43 percent decline reflects mainly strong demand from the domestic market, mainly from Usiminas and CSN, as well as ArcelorMittal, supplies its own rolling mills, leaving small volumes for export.
According to industry sources, strong domestic demand is driven by local production of CRC and coated steel sheets replacing imports from China following the introduction of anti-dumping duties on these Chinese products in February.
In May in Brazil no slab imports were registered at the ports, compared to the 27,400 tons imported by Usiminas from Vietnam in April
