Steel imports fall in October, marking third consecutive annual decline

Steel imports totalled 473 thousand tonnes in October, a volume 21.4% lower than that recorded in the same period last year, according to data released by the Brazil Steel Institute (Aço Brasil, IABr) on the 19th. Flat steel alone accounted for 459 thousand tonnes, signalling a 5.4% decline.

This was the third consecutive drop in total arrivals and in flat steel purchases in year-on-year comparisons, after seven consecutive increases. In a statement, the association said that monthly comparisons do not reflect a long-term trend and are subject to fluctuations caused by cyclical or non-recurring factors.

Aço Brasil stressed that, while the comparison of each month with the same month of the previous year shows declines in flat steel imports between August and October, as noted, the comparison of each month with the immediately preceding month shows two consecutive increases since August. In this context, it is worth noting that flat steel imports rose 12% from September to October, after growing 4.3% from August to September.

“The most relevant and worrying statistical fact for the steel industry today is that the annual increases in imported flat steel volumes are taking place on increasingly higher bases,” the institute warned.

“As disclosed at the last press conference [in August, during the Aço Brasil Congress], flat steel imports are expected to close 2025 at more than 6 million tonnes, compared with 5.3 million in 2024. This is an unprecedented volume, representing a significant share of 22.6%, versus a historical average below 10% between 2000 and 2019,” it underlined.

With October’s result, steel imports reached 5.5 million tonnes since January, an increase of 6.1% compared with the same period last year. Flat steel alone totalled 4.9 million tonnes, up 20.4%.

Origin of Arrivals

In the tenth month of 2025, Brazil imported 379.1 thousand tonnes of steel from Asia. China alone accounted for 323 thousand tonnes. Europe supplied 52 thousand tonnes, of which 29.5 thousand came from European Union (EU) countries. The two continents were the main suppliers, followed by Africa, with 34.9 thousand tonnes sold.

In the year-to-date, Asian countries have exported 4.7 million tonnes of steel to the Brazilian market, of which 3.4 million tonnes were sold by China. Shipments from European suppliers totalled 453 thousand tonnes. Purchases from the EU alone amounted to 341 thousand tonnes. Imports originating from the African continent totalled 315.9 thousand tonnes.

According to AGF investment analyst Pedro Galdi, there are rumours and expectations that the federal government may apply anti-dumping measures to curb imports. He believes this could strengthen domestic mills’ competitiveness.

Source: Diário do Comércio

Sharing is caring!