Week-on-Week Comparison Included: May 6–13, 2026 vs. April 29 – May 6, 2026

This free sample offers a curated look at this week’s most critical market-moving events and data. Subscribers receive the full report, including complete price tables for all eight steel products, detailed policy analysis, landed cost calculations, and week-on-week comparisons that reveal exactly where the market is heading.

📌 Sample Core Insights (Excerpt)

📌 China HRC Export Prices Spike to 18-Month High Then Retreat – May 6–12, 2026 – ⏸️ – HRC FOB surged to $515/t immediately after the Labor Day holiday before retreating to $504–511/t as overseas buyers pushed back. Transaction activity has “deteriorated notably,” signaling that the post-holiday rally may have run its course. [Source: Mysteel, SMM]

📌 Baltic Dry Index Surges to 29-Month High of 3,189 – May 13, 2026 – ▲ – The BDI jumped 6.6% week-on-week, with Capesize daily earnings approaching $45,000. Freight costs are now the dominant variable in China-to-South America landed costs, adding an estimated $5–8/t over the past month alone. [Source: Baltic Exchange, Hithink RoyalFlush]

📌 Colombia Imposes Minimum FOB Price of $2,126.66/t on Chinese Welded Pipes – April 29, 2026 (published May 7) – ▲ – Announcement No. 149 effectively closes the Colombian welded pipe market to Chinese exporters, as current market prices are substantially below this floor. [Source: Mysteel]

📌 Argentina Tightens Foreign Exchange Controls, Then Gets Sovereign Upgrade – May 4–5, 2026 – ⏸️ – The government imposed mandatory export repatriation and prior authorization for all FX purchases on May 4. One day later, Fitch upgraded Argentina to B- from CCC+ with stable outlook. The credit signal is positive; the payment reality remains severe. [Source: Fitch Ratings, CDIFM]

Full report includes 6–8 core insights with detailed analysis.

💰 Sample Price & Trend Comparison (Partial View)

Product	Market	This Week (May 6–13)	WoW Change (vs Apr 29–May 6)	Key Driver
China HRC (SS400, 3mm) FOB	🇨🇳 China	$504–511/t	▼ -$1–5/t	Buyer resistance at elevated levels; transactions slowing
China Billet (3SP, 150mm) FOB	🇨🇳 China	$481–483/t	▼ -$3–5/t	Deals “could not be concluded at high prices”
Brazil Domestic HRC (ex-works)	🇧🇷 Brazil	R $3, 300 – 3, 500 / t ($ 3,300–3,500/t(674–715/t)	⏸️ Stable	Market awaiting July quota renewal decision
Iron Ore (62% Fe CFR China)	🌍 Global	~$109–110/t	⏸️ Stable	Pre-holiday restocking complete; supply steady
BDI (Baltic Dry Index)	🌍 Global	3,189	▲ +6.6%	Capesize demand surging; vessel supply constrained

Subscribers receive complete tables for all eight products across five South American markets, with precise weekly and monthly changes.

🛡️ Sample Supply Chain & Policy Update (Excerpt)

Colombia Welded Pipe Market Closure and Regional Trade Fragmentation – May 2026

Colombia’s new minimum FOB price of $2,126.66/t net weight on Chinese welded pipes (Announcement No. 149, published May 7, 2026) represents the latest escalation in Latin America’s accelerating trade protection. Combined with the 35% tariff on non-FTA steel imports imposed in March and the ongoing wire rod anti-dumping investigation, Colombia is now one of the most protected steel markets in South America. For Chinese exporters, the welded pipe segment is effectively closed—current market prices are substantially below the minimum floor, making it economically impossible to place material. Peru and Chile are the logical alternative destinations, with Peru’s steel imports from China surging 43% year-on-year in January-February 2026 and Chile maintaining open-market access without new trade barriers.

Meanwhile, Argentina’s abrupt FX control tightening on May 4—requiring mandatory export repatriation and prior authorization for all overseas transfers—has created severe near-term payment friction. Import payment approval rates stand at approximately 43%, with average waiting periods of 90–120 days. Exporters must use confirmed irrevocable letters of credit and export credit insurance as non-negotiable protections.

Full report includes 3–4 in‑depth supply chain and policy updates with cross‑market analysis.

💡 Sample Actionable Advice (Preview)

For Procurement Managers	For Export Sales Managers
✅ Defer China HRC and billet purchases by 1–2 weeks – The post-holiday price peak is passing; waiting should yield a $5–10/t FOB improvement as HRC maintenance capacity releases.	✅ Lock in current HRC export prices at $504–511/t FOB–The $515/t spike was unsustainable. Close pending negotiations before the maintenance release adds supply pressure next week.
⚠️ Lock in freight rates now – BDI at 3,189 (+41.7% MoM) shows no sign of peaking. Forward freight agreements are advisable for all South America-bound shipments in the next 4–6 weeks.	👀 Redirect welded pipe volumes from Colombia to Peru and Chile – Colombia’s new minimum FOB price makes that market economically impossible. Peru and Chile offer the best alternative access.
👀 Monitor Iran export ban expiry on May 30 – The 6–12 month capacity restoration timeline means supply tightness will persist, but pre-emptive restocking could support prices through month-end.	⚠️ Require confirmed L/C and export credit insurance for Argentina – The May 4 FX control tightening makes receivables protection non-negotiable. The Fitch upgrade to B- is positive medium-term but does not resolve 90–120 day payment delays.

The full report contains six tailored action items for each audience, with specific rationales and target markets.

📥 Get the Full Report

This free sample is only a fraction of the intelligence delivered each week. Subscribers to the South America Steel Weekly Report receive:

8 product price tables (billet, rebar, HRC, CRC, HDG, carbon steel pipe, stainless steel, CRGO) with FOB, domestic, and import parity data for all key origins.
Week-on-week and year-on-year comparisons to track market direction.
Import viability assessments with landed cost calculations under current trade remedy regimes.
Comprehensive policy tracker – anti‑dumping duties, safeguard measures, CBAM, certification updates.
Supply chain dynamics – port congestion, raw material trends, geopolitics, freight.
Forward‑looking price forecast with supporting arguments and one key downside risk.

👉 Subscribe Monthly – Never miss a market shift
👉 Subscribe Annually – Best value for procurement and sales teams

📧 Questions? Custom reports for your specific product or market?
Contact Amy directly at amy@amyinsights.com