Long steel imports into Brazil increased by 36.4% in 2012, according to figures disclosed by the country’s foreign trade ministry.

Following a review of regional transaction data, Metal Bulletin is proposing the following changes to the base currencies for the following steel prices.

Japan’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for May surprised to the upside at 52.8, having been expected to remain at April’s level of 52.5, while China’s Caixin PMI came in at 51.1, which was unchanged from April’s reading. Taking into account yesterday’s better-than-expected reading on China’s official PMI, economic data may be picking up again, which could bode well for the metals.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Friday March 16.

Gerdau Long Steel North America plans to resume operations at its Sayreville, New Jersey, steel mill next week. The mill had been left without power in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Net profit at Egypt's El Ezz Dekheila Steel (EZDK) rose 16% in the second quarter of 2012 as costs were reduced to combat a fall in sales of almost half those of last year.

Global billet prices for steel slab have mostly risen this week, as suppliers in the CIS region managed to push through an increase and concluded several deals at higher prices.

The latest news and price moves to start the Asian day on Tuesday September 25.

The rallies in the base metals on the London Metal Exchange have generally continued in early trading today, Friday August 25, with prices up by an average of 0.4%, with aluminium, zinc, lead and copper prices up between 0.6% to 0.8%, while nickel is off 0.5% and tin is little changed. Three-month copper prices are at $6,740 per tonne.

Base metals traded on the London Metal Exchange are broadly higher this morning, Thursday August 24, with three-month copper, zinc, lead and tin prices up by between 0.2% and 0.5%, with copper prices at $6,612 per tonne, while aluminium and nickel prices are by off 0.3% and 0.6%, respectively.