China has been exporting finished steel to Latin America at lower prices when compared to the rest of the world, the Latin America steel association Alacero said.
In the first half of the year, the region received 4 million mt of finished steel from China for $2.7 million, which is about an average price of $672 per metric ton, Alacero said.
In the same period, China has sent 32.9 million mt of the product to the rest of the world, excluding Latin America, for $24.3 million, whose average price per mt is $741, Alacero noted.
As a result, the Latin American region received the product at prices that were 9 percent lower than the rest of the world.
With exception of Argentina, Cuba and Venezuela, this is a “phenomenon that is being registered in all the countries of Latin America,” Alacero said.
Central America was able to import finished steel at prices that were 12 percent lower to Latin American prices and 21 percent lower to global prices.
In the region, the average price per metric ton reached $589.
