Insight
Flurry of blast furnace shutdowns herald demand decline in Brazil as outbreak intensifies
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Report summary
Three major steel producers reacted to growing coronavirus concerns and declining domestic and global demand by idling blast furnaces in the heart of Brazilian steel country. Over the course of a week, beginning on 27 March, the stage was set for four blast furnaces across the fleets of ArcelorMittal, Gerdau and Usiminas to shutdown temporarily over the next two weeks - representing 10% of 2019 Brazil's BF/BOF crude steel production. As a result, these three producers will reduce their need for imported metallurgical coal from major supply countries. Iron ore is a different story.
Table of contents
- Coking coal and PCI impacts by plant
- Coal demand loss on Brazilian blast furnace closures
- Coking coal market implications with Brazilian blast furnace closures
- Is iron ore affected in the same way?
Tables and charts
This report includes the following images and tables:
- Brazil blast furnace idlings - April 2020
What's included
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