• Skip to main content

    Analysis

    January 12, 2023

    ITC Votes to Drop Antidumping Duties on Steel Plate from Brazil

    Written by Ethan Bernard

    The US International Trade Commission (ITC) voted to remove antidumping duties on imports of Brazilian steel plate.

    balanceThe ITC on Monday, Jan. 10, ruled that imports of carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate from Brazil would not likely lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. Brazil had been subject to antidumping duties of 74.52%.

    However, the ITC said that the existing orders on imports of this product from Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey would remain in place. The US is also keeping countervailing duties on plate from China and South Korea.

    The lifting of anti-dumping duties on Brazilian plate follows the five-year “sunset” review process required by international trade law. Sunset reviews require US trade officials to decide whether duties should be extended or allowed to lapse (i.e., sunset).

    Removing duties on Brazilian steel has become a trend. US trade officials have also decided to let duties expire on Brazilian hot-rolled and cold-rolled coil – something that has raised the ire of domestic mills. As in other recent cases involving Brazil, ITC commissioners voted unanimously to keep duties on imports from other countries. But it was a 3-2 vote on Brazil. ITC Chairman David Johanson voted against continuing duties on Brazil along with Commissioners Jason Kearns and Amy Karpel. Commissioners Rhonda Schmidtlein and Randolph Stayin voted to continue the duties. The sunsetting of duties on Brazil is notable because it could allow the country to become a more important supplier of sheet and plate to the US market, especially since Brazil does not face a Section 232 tariff of 25%. Brazil is instead limited by its Section 232 quota. Duties were imposed on plate from Brazil in 2017 following a wide-ranging trade petition. That petition was one of several filed against sheet and plate imports in 2015 and 2016 that altered the import landscape.

    Case in point: Brazil shipped 124,702 metric tonnes of plate to the US in 2014, that figure had collapsed to 7,654 tonnes by 2016. Brazil shipped no plate to the US from 2017 to 2021, and only 17.2 tonnes in 2022, according to Commerce Department figures.

    By Ethan Bernard, Ethan@SteelMarketUpdate.com

    Ethan Bernard

    Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

    Read more from Ethan Bernard

    Latest in Analysis

    ArcelorMittal sees N. American shipments flat in Q4 as Calvert ramps up

    ArcelorMittal expects North American steel shipments to be flat sequentially in the fourth quarter, as recovery from Canadian and Mexican disruptions is expected to be offset by normal seasonality and maintenance. The company reported third-quarter shipments of 2.645 million metric tons, down 6.6% sequentially but up 1% year over year (y/y). It attributed the shipment decline primarily to lower long product volumes. North America sales were nearly $3.7 billion in Q3’26, nearly level with the previous quarter but 11% higher y/y. Average selling prices rose 5.7% sequentially to $1,228 per metric ton (mt).

    Market chatter: Supply, not price, dominates steel buyers’ concerns

    On Monday and Tuesday of this week, SMU polled steel buyers on an array of topics, ranging from market prices, demand, and inventories to tariffs, imports, and evolving market events. We are sharing a selection of the comments we received below, in each buyer’s own words. Before diving in, we reviewed all the responses collected and compiled these key takeaways: Respondents overwhelmingly anticipate further increases. Buyers cite limited supply, mill delays, low inventories, and steady-to-strong demand. Most say demand is generally stable to improving, with some purchasing driven by fears of higher prices or unavailable material rather than stronger underlying consumption. Most respondents report faster inventory turnover, while shortages are constraining sales and, in some cases, prompting customer allocations. Buyers increasingly see imports as a way to secure scarce material, though domestic-origin requirements, delivery timing, and pricing risks remain obstacles.

    Sheet prices surge as ’26 market squeeze spills into ’27

    Sheet prices soared this week as market participants increasingly predict that the strong market characterizing 2026 will stretch well into 2027. And with extremely limited spot availability, mills that have spot tons to sell are charging a significant premium, they said. The result: Sheet prices saw their highest week-over-week gains since March 2025, according to SMU's pricing records. That's when President Trump shocked the market by expanding Section 232 tariffs to cover traditional US allies such as Canada, Mexico, and the EU.

    Ferrous scrap prices seen rising in November

    Most SMU scrap sources are predicting a stronger scrap market for November. The increase in prices is generally thought be $20-30 per gross ton (gt) in most districts. However, there are differences of opinion about the upcoming price settlements. SMU spoke with a trading source in the Great Lakes region who told us mills in the Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania regions are short on scrap. At least one buyer is offering to buy scrap at a $30/gt increase from October levels. He said most dealers have elected to wait to see where things settle before making commitments.