OREANDA-NEWS. February 09, 2011. Usiminas, Brazilian flat steel market leader, won this year’s first international tender under the Fleet Expansion and Modernization Program (PROMEF), coordinated by Transpetro.

The steelmaker was the most competitive option among various international bidders, and it will supply 13,000 tons of ship plates to Estaleiro Ilha S.A. (EISA), Rio de Janeiro, for the construction of Panamax-type vessels. The deliveries are planned to start between March and April.

In last year’s tenders, Usiminas was the biggest steel supplier to Transpetro in terms of total tonnage. With this new awarding, the steelmaker gradually consolidates itself as a major player in the development of the Brazilian shipbuilding industry.