Brazil exported 300 metric tons (mt) of plate in May, up from 11,300 t in April, according to SECEX, the secretariat of foreign trade of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.
The May volume, by far the lowest in recent years, reflects a combination of factors that include the absence of the United States and Argentina as destinations, as well as a shift in shipments from May to June.
April exports were headed to South American countries and shipped by Gerdau (230 tons at $588/ton), Traders (35 tons at $1153/ton), CSN (22 tons at $921/ton) and Usiminas (12 tons at $951/ton), all FOB.
Imports also fell sharply to 338 tons in May compared to 2200 tons in April shipped Europe (289 tons at US$1,612 per ton) and China (49 tonnes at US$1,486 per ton).
Brazil's plate imports typically consist of specialty steel grades that are not produced domestically because production is not economically feasible in the quantities needed. scale.
