[SMM Iron & Steel] Brazil’s Finished Steel Trade Deficit Shrank by 59.2% in Jan-May 2026

Published: Jun 11, 2026 16:30

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According to the Brazil Steel Institute (Aço Brasil), Brazil's finished steel trade deficit compressed sharply by 59.2% year-on-year during the first five months of 2026, dropping to 503,000 metric tons (mt) from 1.23 million mt in the same period of 2025. Cumulative finished steel imports for January-May 2026 fell by 21.6% year-on-year to 1.41 million mt, while domestic sales by Brazilian mills advanced by 6.7% year-on-year to 8.08 million mt, elevating total apparent domestic consumption to 9.07 million mt. Crude steel production for the period registered a 4.7% increase to 14.15 million mt, whereas total exports contracted slightly by 1.8% to 906,000 mt. The market impact highlights the immediate protective efficiency of Brazil’s newly deployed 25% tariff-rate quota (TRQ) system and anti-dumping measures. By successfully turning back low-priced import volumes, these trade blocks have redirected bulk procurement back to domestic mills, allowing local steelmakers to secure their home market share and stabilize regional pricing baselines despite challenging global demand headwinds.

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