Brazil's slab exports to grow by 20% in 2025
Exports of slabs from Brazil in 2025 increased by 19.6% to 7.29 million metric tons, driven by shipments to the United States, customs data show.
A slab is a semi-finished steel product used in rolling mills for the production of hot-rolled coils and thick sheets, as well as other flat products.
Brazilian factories shipped 4.83 million tons of slabs to the United States, which is 12% more than in 2024, contrary to market expectations of a 50% reduction in all steel imports from the United States after the introduction of duties on June 4. Sellers covered some of the higher costs by lowering prices to ensure the safety of transactions, the sources said.
The U.
S. tariffs have weakened the slab trade between Brazil and Canada, as lower U.
S. demand for finished Canadian steel has led to lower demand for slabs in Canada. Shipments from Brazil to Canada decreased by 85.5% last year to 56,982 tons.
Brazilian factories have turned to alternative markets to reduce their dependence on trade with the United States. As a result, exports to Europe and other South American countries increased.
Mexico imported 473,559 tons of Brazilian slabs during the year, which is 56.8% more than in the same period of 2024. Brazilian slab producers tripled shipments to Argentina to 334,030 tons in 2025.
Exports to France more than doubled to 290,917 tons from 122,121 tons in 2024, while shipments to Poland increased sixfold to 246,226 tons.