Chairman of Brazilian Steel Institute (IABr) said the steel industry in the country has an expectation of a better 2013 than 2012, due to the role of the government to hold the exchange rate, the adoption of a policy of trade protection and more aggressive package to reduce the cost of energy.
The chairman, Marco Polo de Mello Lopes, also noted that the fiscal war between the ports in some states that reduce ICMS rate to encouraging imports is expected to be end next will, which will also reduce the pressure on steelmakers in the country from imported products.
Besides, according to Latin American Association of Steel (Alacero), Chinese imports to Latin America from this January to August increased 38% in value and 9.5% in volume, about US$3 billion and 1.9 million tons respectively, compared to the same period of last year.