BRASILIA: Brazil-based flats maker Usiminas almost doubled its exports of heavy plate in 2014 to 249,000 mt, from 128,000 mt in 2013, the company said.
Hot-rolled coil was the company’s second largest export by volume, which reached 342,000 mt, up from 254,000 mt on 2013. Year over year, the difference represents increase of 34%.
Cold-rolled coil exports hiked 23% in 2014 to 146,000 mt, versus 2013’s 119,000 mt.
Total Usiminas exports in 2014 totaled 968,000 mt up 19% from the 813,000 mt in 2013. “The highlight was the growth in sales to the United States, which became the main destination of exports, and Argentina, which represented the highest profitability in the exports,” the company said.
Usiminas supplies the largest portion of Argentina’s import demand for heavy plate, most of which goes to the auto industry there, the company said.
The US received 39% of Usiminas’ exports in 2014; Argentina received 17%; Mexico received 11%; and Taiwan and Colombia received 8% each.
