According to SECEX, the secretariat of foreign trade of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil, Brazil exported 149,565 tons of finished carbon steel products in May at a price of 111.684 million US dollars, and imported 175,927 tons at a price of 130.994 million US dollars.
By comparison, Brazil exported 176,394 tons in May 134 $415 million and imports of 218,767 tons from $161.830 million in April.
May results indicate a commercial decline of 26,362 tons versus a deficit of 42,372 tons in April.
In dollar terms, the deficit was $19.309 million in May, down from $27,415. million in April.
The narrowing of the deficit for the second month in a row reflects the effectiveness of anti-dumping measures taken by Brazilian authorities in February against Chinese coated flat steel and CRC.
Analysts expect the deficit to narrow further in June as imports from China are likely to continue to fall and HRC imports may also be subject to safeguard measures.
Total imports from China in May were equivalent to 41 percent of the total, up from 47 percent in April.
By volume, the top exports in May were wire rod (28 percent), rebar (26 percent), coated flat products (25 percent) and HRC bars (12 percent).
The top imports were coated flat products (37 percent), HRC (26 percent), rebar (11 percent) and steel wire. (9 percent).
