Brazilian imports of ferrous scrap hit a record high of in 2018 of 266,841 mt, over 13 times 2017's 19,644 mt, the Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade said Thursday.
This is the highest volume reported by the ministry since it began publishing the data in 1997.
The previous record was 134,370 mt in 2010.
Of the total imported in 2018, Canada accounted for 99,121 mt, at an average FOB price of $365/mt. The US sent 90,425 mt at an average FOB price of $358/mt.
Most of the cargoes in 2018 entered Brazil via Rio de Janeiro port (103,859 mt), followed by Fortaleza port (69,553 mt), according to the ministry data.
In December, ferrous scrap imports were 28,888 mt almost 12 times higher than a year earlier and almost nine times higher than in November.
Russia was the origin 25,234 mt of December's imports at an average FOB price of $334/mt, and 2,277 mt came from the US at an average FOB price of $333/mt.
Most of December's cargoes entered Brazil via Campos Dos Goitacazes port (25,234 mt), followed by Rio de Janeiro port (2,306 mt), according to the ministry data.
