Brazilian distributors’ November flats sales 3% higher

Brazilian independent flat steel distributors and service centers shipped 262,100 mt in November, a 3% increase compared with 254,400 mt a year ago, data released by national flat distributors association Inda showed Tuesday.

Purchases from mills reached 270,300 mt in November, down 2.1% from 276,000 mt a year earlier, the data showed.

Imports totaled 89,800 mt, a 0.4% increase when compared with 89,400 mt in the year-ago period.

Inventories held by independents totaled 931,100 mt at the end of the month, up 0.9% from end-October, while average inventory increased to 3.6 months of supply.

Inda expects a retreat of 12% in December shipments and purchases, due to the year-end holiday season.

Based on Inda’s data, total shipments and purchases by Brazilian independent flat steel distributors and service centers in 2018 may increase 6% and 6.7% year-on-year to around 3.14 million mt and 3.16 million mt, respectively each.

Priscilla Antunes