Japan and the US remained Vietnam's top two suppliers and accounted for 58pc of total imports in September.

HRC lead times in the Midwest fell to 3-4 weeks from 4 weeks.

High water storage levels at hydropower reservoirs have led Brazilian grid operator ONS and chamber of electric energy commercialization CCEE to launch a plan to export power to Argentina and Uruguay.

Total US electric power sector electricity output for October-March will edge down by less than one-tenth of one percent to around 1,929bn kWh, EIA projected.

Limited overseas scrap demand will continue to weigh on export prices, trade sources said.

Rio Tinto, BHP, Fortescue and Roy Hill loaded vessels with a combined 17.12mn deadweight tonnes (dwt) of capacity.

Total US electric power sector electricity output for October-March will edge down by less than one-tenth of one percent to around 1,929bn kWh, EIA projected.

Rio last month said it would team up with China Baowu Steel Group to develop an iron ore project for $2 billion as it looks to prop up its production from the Pilbara region.