Brazilian imports of rolled steel products are expected to fall by 15.1pc to 4.88mn metric tonnes (t) on the year in 2026, according to steel association Aco Brasil.
The expected decline follows a tightening of Brazil's trade defenses against steel imports, according to the association. Total steel imports are forecast to decline by 13.2pc to 5.56mn t this year.
Despite the drop in imports, domestic sales are expected to rise by just 0.2pc to 21.27mn t, while apparent steel consumption is forecast to fall by 2.7pc to 26.08mn t. Crude steel production is expected to remain broadly flat at 33.38mn t, down by 0.1pc from 2025.
Brazil imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on Chinese cold-rolled steel in February, with duties varying by producer and reaching more than $600/t for some suppliers. The measures are valid for up to five years.
The government also imposed definitive anti-dumping duties of up to $709.63/t on Chinese coated flat steel in February and $289.1-545.39/t on pre-painted steel from China and India earlier that month.
The duties add to Brazil's tariff-quota system for several of its most-imported steel products, under which imports exceeding established quotas are subject to a 25pc import tariff.
Aco Brasil also expects Brazilian steel exports to fall by 0.5pc to 10.93mn t in 2026.
