[SMM Steel] Quota Limits and Weak Demand Force Aggressive Price Cuts from Vietnamese Flat Steel Suppliers in Brazil

Published: Jul 17, 2026 13:46

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[Brazil] This week, Brazilian HRC import offers dropped to 600–610 USD/tonne CFR, with a combined import contract of approximately 20,000 tonnes of flat steel recently concluded in the market. Notably, facing the impact of lower-priced resources out of Indonesia and India, Vietnam, as a core supplier to Brazil, has been forced to proactively lower its offers to stimulate export bookings. Currently, Brazil's strict import quota system alongside domestic credit tightening has significantly dampened local importers' restocking appetite. Compounded by continuously rising inventories at service centers, downstream demand remains deeply subdued, leaving steel mills struggling with sluggish new order intake.

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