Latin America Steel Slips on China Tariff Trade
Brazil's Gerdau, CSN and Mexico's Ternium fell Friday as the SLX steel ETF dipped. Trade defences against cheap Chinese steel remain the key driver. The post Latin America Steel Slips on China Tariff Trade appeared first on The Rio Times .
Latin American steel shares declined on August 14, 2026 as investors weighed the impact of tariff protections against a weak global demand scenario. The SLX steel-producers ETF, which includes Gerdau, closed at US$107.96, down 0.50 percent. Brazilian Gerdau and CSN led the regional declines, while Mexico's Ternium showed more resilience.
The drop was attributed to profit-taking after months of tariff-driven gains, rather than a reversal of the recovery in local steel prices. Mexico's up to US$0.2304 per kilogram anti-dumping duty on Chinese hot-rolled steel and Brazil's five-year penalties on Chinese flat products have given local mills breathing room. The key test will be whether domestic steel prices in Mexico and Brazil continue to rise, confirming the tariff wall's earnings impact for Gerdau, CSN, Usiminas and Ternium.
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