Analyst Daniel Sasson said in the note to clients that prices of hot rolled steel will rise by 10% and those for other products will rise by 5%. Sasson said the information was confirmed by two steel distributors and that this would be Usiminas' third price hike this year.
"The strong pick-up in steel demand in 2021 amidst a robust and broad economic recovery will impede prices from crashing and will help them average at elevated levels this year," according to Fitch Solutions.