Week-on-Week Comparison Included: May 13–20, 2026 vs. May 6–13, 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)

📌 Brazil HRC Surges to Global Price Leadership – May 11–15, 2026 – ▲▲ – Brazilian domestic HRC prices have risen 21% year-to-date, the strongest performance globally according to Goldman Sachs. Platts assessed ex-works prices at a level that makes Brazil the world’s most expensive HRC market, with mill sentiment at its highest since August 2024. The domestic‑versus‑import price gap is now the widest of the year. [Source: Goldman Sachs, S&P Global Platts]

📌 Brazil Faces Nationwide 32‑Port Strike Amid Severe Congestion – May 20, 2026 – 🔴 – A 12‑hour strike called by port worker unions will hit all major Brazilian ports, including Santos where average berthing waits have already reached 4.8 days and Vila do Conde where waits have hit a record 10‑plus days. Cascading delays of one to two weeks are expected. [Source: World Ports, Estiva Union]

📌 China HRC Export Prices Soften, Two‑Tier Market Emerges – May 15–19, 2026 – ▼ – Spot HRC export offers declined as post‑holiday buying enthusiasm faded, with major mills holding elevated list prices while spot transaction liquidity dried up. The gap between quoted and traded levels is widening, a structure that historically resolves through list‑price adjustment. [Source: SMM, Kallanish]

📌 Baltic Dry Index Retreats from 29‑Month High – May 14–20, 2026 – ▼ – The BDI fell for four consecutive days, with Capesize daily earnings dropping sharply. The decline offers the first meaningful freight cost relief in weeks, though the Brazil port strike will override this benefit in the near term. [Source: Baltic Exchange]

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

💰 Sample Price & Trend Comparison (Partial View)

Product	Market	This Week (May 13–20)	WoW Change (vs May 6–13)	Key Driver
China HRC (Q235B, 3.9mm) FOB	🇨🇳 China	Falling	▼ Spot softening	Buyer resistance; post‑holiday rally fades
China Billet (3SP, 150mm) FOB	🇨🇳 China	Declining	▼ Down	China‑Indonesia spread narrowest in months
Brazil Domestic HRC (ex‑works)	🇧🇷 Brazil	Surging	▲▲ Higher	Global price leader; mill pricing power strong
Iron Ore (KORE 62% Fe, Qingdao)	🌍 Global	Firm	▲ Up over past month	Supply tightness; Iran disruption supports
BDI (Baltic Dry Index)	🌍 Global	Falling	▼ Down from peak	Weaker iron ore procurement; ore supply rising

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)

Brazil Port Strike and Logistics Crisis – May 20, 2026

A nationwide 12‑hour strike by Brazil’s port stevedores and temporary workers will hit 32 major ports at a moment when the system is already operating beyond capacity. Santos port—Latin America’s largest container hub—is averaging 116‑hour berthing waits, while Vila do Conde in the north has hit a record 242‑hour wait. Even a short work stoppage under these conditions will trigger cascading vessel queues, cargo backlogs, and demurrage costs that could reach tens of thousands of dollars per day. Importers with time‑sensitive steel shipments should expect at least 7–14 days of additional delay and should evaluate alternative routings through less congested ports or adjust inventory buffers immediately.

Simultaneously, Brazil’s anti‑dumping investigation on carbon HRC—now targeting China, Vietnam, Japan, and Russia—is approaching its July 20 final determination deadline, while the stainless HRC investigation has delivered an affirmative preliminary ruling with Chinese dumping margins assessed above 50 percent. No provisional duties have been imposed yet, but the clock is ticking.

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
✅ Lock domestic Brazilian HRC contracts now – Domestic prices are surging and mills are signaling further increases. The import‑versus‑domestic gap is the widest of the year.	✅ Lock in SAE1006 HRC at leading‑mill list prices – June order books are well‑filled, but spot liquidity is drying. Close pending negotiations before the two‑tier market resolves downward.
⚠️ Prepare for the May 20 port strike – Budget for 7–14 days of additional delay and demurrage costs. Evaluate Vitória or Suape routings as partial alternatives.	👀 Redirect billet exports to Southeast Asia and the Middle East – The China‑Indonesia price spread has narrowed to its tightest level in months, eroding South American competitiveness.
👀 Defer China HRC and billet purchases by 1–2 weeks – The post‑holiday rally has clearly ended and further softening is likely.	⚠️ Require confirmed L/C and export credit insurance for Argentina – The macro outlook is improving, but import payment approval rates remain critically low.

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.

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