Brazil broadens steel import quota coverage

Market: Metals
10/09/25

The Brazilian government has added two new long steel products to its import quota system starting 22 August, foreign trade secretariat data showed.

Buyers can now import up to 21,330 metric tonnes (t) of I-beams and H-beams at least 80mm tall under reduced tariffs ranging from 9-13pc.

Imports exceeding this quota will face a 25pc tariff until 21 December, when the quota for these two products resets and lower tariffs apply again. Importers have claimed only 200t of I-beams, but none had cleared customs as of 3 September.

The move strengthens Brazil's safeguard measures to curb a surge in steel imports. The country is on track to reach a new import record of 6.3mn t of rolled steel, industry chamber Aço Brasil forecasts.

The quota list has now expanded from 17 to 19 products, with a total of 497,100t covered under the system. Each product has a specific quota volume, based on historical import levels.

The current quota period runs from June to October for the initial 17 products. After October, the quotas reset, and importers can again access reduced tariffs within the new limits.

Brazil importers brought in 5,300t from 27 August–3 September and have filled 294,300t of the initial 475,800t buyers are allowed to bring into the country under lower tariffs. Most of this volume remains awaiting entry, with only 130,000t having cleared customs as of 3 September.

By Isabel Filgueiras

Brazil steel import quotas				metric tonnes
Product	Full Quota	Consumed by 3-Sept	Difference	Share (%)
Hot-rolled
HRC, ≥600mm wide, 4.75–10mm thick	1,285	235	1,050	18.3
HRC, ≥600mm wide, 3-4.75mm thick	3,111	2,003	1,108	64.4
HRC, ≥600mm wide, ≤3mm thick, ≥275 MPa	9,520	6,866	2,654	72.1
HRC, ≥600mm wide, ≤3mm thick	23,490	4,020	19,470	17.1
HRC, ≥600mm wide	9,798	3,576	6,222	36.5
Flat-rolled, ≥600mm wide	468	164	304	35.0
Cold rolled
CRC, ≥600mm wide, 1-3mm thick	47,950	26,791	21,159	55.9
CRC, ≥600mm wide, 0.5-1mm thick	36,255	20,622	15,633	56.9
CRC, ≥600mm wide	9,273	8,001	1,272	86.3
Galvanized
HDG, ≥600mm wide, <4.75mm	144,286	93,542	50,744	64.8
GL, ≥600mm wide	147,038	104,413	42,625	71.0
HDG, ≥600mm wide	1,915	1,349	566	70.4
Wire rod
Wire rod, circular section <14mm dia	32,535	19,153	13,382	58.9
Tubes
Seamless tubes ( oil, gas industry)	6,295	2,847	3,448	45.2
Submerged arc welding steel pipes, >406.4mm OD	490	137	353	28.0
Welded circular steel pipes, >406.4mm OD	420	43	377	10.2
Welded circular (oil, gas industry)	1,679	518	1,161	30.9
Beams
I-beam, ≥80mm	17,121	200	16,921	1.2
H-beam, ≥80mm	4,201	0	4,201	0.0
Source: Siscomex

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