Buying electrical steel for Brazil: grades, duties, shipping to Santos and CIF quotes
How Baosteel grades compare with the AISI M-grades and ABNT references used in Brazil, which anti-dumping duties apply, and how CIF shipments to Santos or Paranaguá are quoted.
Grades used in Brazil
Brazilian transformer and motor makers often specify AISI M-grades (M-4, M-5, M-6 for grain-oriented; M-15 to M-47 for non-oriented), and non-oriented steel is also covered by ABNT NBR NM 71. The tables match Baosteel grades by thickness and guaranteed loss class.
| Baosteel | Nippon Steel | thyssenkrupp | AISI |
|---|---|---|---|
| B23R085 | 23ZDKH85 | H085-23 | — |
| B23P090 | 23ZH090 | H090-23 | — |
| B23P100 | 23ZH100 | H100-23 | H-0 |
| B27P100 | 27ZH100 | H103-27 | — |
| B27P110 | 27ZH110 | — | H-1 |
| B23G120 | — | C120-23 | M-3 |
| B27G130 | 27Z130 | C130-27 | M-4 |
| B30G140 | 30Z140 | C140-30 | M-5 |
| B35G155 | 35Z155 | C165-35 | M-6 |
| Baosteel | EN 10106 | AISI |
|---|---|---|
| B35A250 | M250-35A | M-15 |
| B35A270 | M270-35A | M-19 |
| B35A300 | M300-35A | M-22 / M-27 |
| B50A290 | M290-50A | M-15 |
| B50A310 | M310-50A | M-19 |
| B50A350 | M350-50A | M-22 |
| B50A470 | M470-50A | — |
| B50A600 | M600-50A | — |
| B50A800 | M800-50A | — |
| B65A600 | M600-65A | M-45 |
Anti-dumping duties to check
Brazil has applied anti-dumping duties on non-oriented electrical steel (NCM 7225.19.00 and 7226.19.00) from China since 2013. In July 2025 Gecex extended them for five years, at US$90 to US$166.32 per tonne for Chinese producers. As of October 2026 we found no Brazilian anti-dumping duty on grain-oriented steel, but confirm the current position with your customs broker before you order.
Shipping to Santos and Paranaguá
- Santos serves São Paulo and the southeast; Paranaguá suits Paraná and Santa Catarina.
- Coils travel in 20-foot containers on fixed saddles; laminations and cores on pallets or in crates.
- The route crosses the equator, so moisture protection matters: VCI paper, sealed film and desiccant are standard.
- Your importer needs a valid Radar registration with the Receita Federal, and an import licence (LI) may be required for some NCMs.
How a CIF quotation works
Under CIF (Incoterms 2020) we book the ocean freight and buy cargo insurance to your named port of destination. Risk passes to you when the goods are loaded on board at the Chinese port; unloading, import clearance, duties and inland delivery are on your side. CIF only requires minimum insurance (Institute Cargo Clauses C) for 110% of the contract value, so ask for Clauses A if you want all-risks cover.
What to send for a CIF quotation: grade (or the standard and loss class you need), thickness and width, coil ID/OD or lamination drawing, quantity per shipment, destination port, required documents, and whether you want Clauses A insurance.
Documents with every shipment
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading
- Baosteel mill certificate and our inspection report, traceable by coil number
- Insurance certificate (CIF)
- Certificate of origin, and Portuguese product descriptions with the NCM on the invoice if your broker asks for them
