Paraguay imported 15,746 mt of its four most popular flat-rolled steel products in July, a jump of 115.1% from 7,319 mt a year ago, but a 15.7% slide from 18,685 mt in June, according to central bank data released Tuesday.
The four dominant flat products in July were hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled coil, zincalume and plate. The data also showed Argentina supplied the bulk of these products in July, at 10,263 mt.
HRC was the most imported flat product in July, totaling 5,487 mt and valued at $3.21 million FOB, or an average of $586/mt. That total was up 325% from 1,291 mt in the year-ago month, valued at $492,879 FOB, or $381/mt.
July's HRC total was down 30% from June's 7,841 mt and valued at $4.44 million FOB, or an average of $567/mt. Argentina was the main supplier, accounting for 4,251 mt of July's total.
The country's CRC imports in July totaled 4,958 mt, up 279.3% year on year, valued at $3.52 million FOB, or $710/mt. In July 2016, Paraguay's CRC imports totaled 1,307 mt and were valued at $666,982 FOB, or $510/mt.
Month on month, CRC imports decreased 18.4% from 6,076 mt, valued at $4.71 million FOB, or $775/mt. Argentina supplied 4,881 mt of the July's total.
July imports of zincalume totaled 3,914 mt, valued at $2.92 million mt FOB, or $746/mt. That was down 2.1% from 3,999 mt in the year-ago month, which was valued at $2.43 million FOB, or $608/mt.
Zincalume imports decreased 7% compared with June's 4,208 mt, valued at $3.15 million mt FOB, or $748/mt. China provided 2,257 mt of July's total.
Plate imports totaled 1,385 mt in July, shipped at a value of $919,918 FOB, or an average of $663/mt. That total was 92.4% up from 720 mt in the year-ago month, which was valued at $292,933 FOB, or $406/mt.
July's total increased 22.8% compared with June's 1,128 mt, shipped at a value of $691,119 FOB, or an average of $612/mt. Argentina was the largest supplier, accounting for 1,130 mt of July's total.
