Usinas Siderúrgicas de Minas Gerais S.A. (BVMF:USIM5)
Brazil flag Brazil · Delayed Price · Currency is BRL
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-0.47 (-8.59%)
Oct 30, 2026, 5:05 PM GMT-3
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Earnings Call: Q3 2026

Oct 30, 2026

Summary

Q3 EBITDA fell 27% QoQ but rose 29% YoY, as steel margins and mining results faced cost and freight pressure. Cost-reduction projects and higher-value steel remain priorities amid weaker demand and import competition.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Welcome to the Usiminas conference call to discuss our results of Q3 of 2026. I am Leonardo Karam, Investor Relations Director at Usiminas. All participants are connected in listen-only mode. You can submit questions in writing during the Q&A session in Zoom. It is the Q&A icon at the bottom of your screen. Participants listening in English can also ask their questions directly during this session. This conference call is being recorded and streamed simultaneously on the Usiminas YouTube channel. Please note that this conference call is intended only for investors and market analysts. We ask that you identify yourself so that your question can be answered. We also ask journalists to send any questions to Usiminas Media Relations at imprensa@usiminas.com.

Before we continue, we would like to point out that any statements made during this conference call about the company's business outlook, including projections and operating and financial targets related to its growth potential, are forecasts based on management's expectations for the future of Usiminas. These expectations depend heavily on the performance of the steel sector, the country's economic condition, and international markets, and are therefore subject to change. With us today are our CEO, Marcelo Chara, and our VP of Finance and IR, Diego Garcia. Initially, Marcelo will make some opening remarks, then Diego will present the results. After that, we will answer the questions submitted during the Q&A session. I will now hand it over to Marcelo.

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome. Thank you for participating in our video conference call where we will present the results and the progress for Q3 of 2026. Our consolidated EBITDA was BRL 850 million with a 9% margin. This is approximate drop of 27% vis-à-vis the second quarter. When we compare it to Q3 of 2025, the EBITDA increased by 29% and 2 percentage points in margin. In the steel units, steel sales increased 5% vis-à-vis the past quarter, but the results were impacted by the persistent impact of external costs that were transferred to the price, in addition to the negative effects. Mining between maritime freights that were higher and higher cost of iron ore, this pressured shipments and margins. We had to adjust our production, prioritizing the processes that were more profitable when we compare the year. Our progress in cash generation and profit was important.

The accumulated EBITDA during the first nine months totaled BRL 2 billion. This is a growth of 25% when we compare it to last year and the steel unit. The EBITDA increased by $53 per ton, driven by the drop of costs and expenses. In the economic international scenario, we are very cautious for the upcoming quarters. The persistence of worldwide geopolitical tensions together with market volatility, the increase of cost of energy pressure, the economic activity, and inflation, creating a less favorable environment to the stabilization of global economies and Brazilian economies. Brazil, the steel market and manufactured products are facing dire straits. Steel is facing high levels of unfair competition, and this has affected us throughout the year. Parallelly, the national industry faces an invasion of manufactured products with a lot of steel within them, as well as cars, refrigerators, and other house appliances.

According to ANFAVEA, the country imported 250,000 cars up till September of 2026, more than double than the same period of 2025. According to the calculation of Brazilian Steel Institute , the volume of direct and indirect imports of steel will total 12 million tons. During 2026, this accounts for 57% of the Brazilian consumption. This directly impacts the employment of the value chain of the country. The commercial defense measures based on the analysis of the technical team of the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, and adopted throughout the government during 2026, positively contributed to reduce steel imports throughout the year when we compare it to 2025. Nonetheless, they were still at higher levels from the historic average that has been registered.

This movement, nonetheless, was followed by a relevant change from the origin of imported product with a drop of Chinese share, but we step greater presence of suppliers of other countries like Vietnam, South Korea, and Egypt. Brazil has to continue making progress in the defense of their commercial strength. We have to conclude the anti-dumping investigation on hot-rolled flat products and advance with additional instruments that can contain steel imports from other market as the indirect inflow through manufactured products. These actions are essential for reassure more balanced conditions of competence to maintain the competitiveness of our industry and to mitigate the risk of loss of employment.

In addition to this, the country has to foster macroeconomic conditions for a new sustainable growth cycle together with the tax reform, very important for the competitiveness of the national industry. The first auction of natural gas in October of 2026 represents a relevant progress for the competitiveness of our industry because of the drop of cost of energy and gas. It is important to continue this agenda to broaden the offer of competitive gas in the domestic market for the next quarter. In the steel industry, we want stability of the shipment where the typical seasonality of the domestic market will be offset by greater exports. We expect pressure over margins because of greater cost of raw material, energy, and inputs in mining, reflecting the current prices and maritime freight. The perspective is to lower shipment, maintaining mineral reserves and prioritizing financial discipline and cost reduction.

Usiminas is committed with the excellence of the operation, safety, environmental performance, and their commitment with the communities where they're present to foster their employees so they can provide quality products to clients. We thank our employees, clients, suppliers, shareholders, and the communities that surround us. Diego, you have the floor.

Diego Garcia
VP of Finance and IR, Usiminas

Good afternoon to everyone. We will start with the highlights of the quarter. The steel sales grew 50% vis-à-vis last quarter. This variation is because of the best performance of the distribution and the automobile industry. Iron ore sales were 18% lower than the past quarter, reflecting the challenging market conditions that the industry face. The consolidated EBITDA dropped 27% vis-à-vis Q2 because there were lower sales in mining and lower margins in the steel unit.

Now, the adjusted EBITDA margin steel dropped 3 percentage points because of higher cost of raw material and higher exchange rate. Our net cash position was of BRL 471 million and a negative leverage of 0.2 times the EBITDA. Now, our consolidated result, the net results increased 1% vis-à-vis the last quarter because higher steel volumes that were offset by the lower of drops in mining. The adjusted EBITDA, we had lower margins in the steel unit and that were non-recurrent that took place during the second semester. When we see the accrued values up till September, there is a significant increase vis-à-vis the last year as a result of a greater COGS that reflects better efficiency and more financial discipline. Now, the net income shows better operational results, excluding the impact of the impairment of 2025.

Now, the highlights in the steel unit, steel sales registered an increase of 5% in volume for the domestic market. The mix include greater exposure to the automobile industry because of the detriment of the industry. This mix maintain the revenue per ton at stable levels vis-à-vis last quarter when we see the net revenue per ton throughout the nine months compared to the same period last year, there was slight drop of 1%. Now, the drop of adjusted EBITDA shows higher cost of raw material, part offset by higher volumes of sales and the non-recurrent of event like legal lawsuits and the sales of real estate. Now, here we have fair When we see the adjusted EBITDA variation, there's a greater COGS explained by higher cost of slabs and coal offset by lower cost of iron ore. Here we have good rates, lower maintenance expenses, and greater productivity.

The greatest expense with revenues and operational expenses, these are non-recurrent revenue that will take place during the second semester at BRL 70 million and higher logistic costs for exports. Now, others with better results. Now, the mining unit show a challenging scenario with international flake costs that are very hard and IODEX costs that don't follow this increase. During the quarter, we focused on the operations that were more efficient and to temporarily suspend operations of the Samambaia treatment plant. These impacts explain the volumes of 18% drop during this quarter. The adjusted EBITDA with a significant drop vis-à-vis the last quarter was a result of tighter margins because of the drop of the IODEX during the quarter. During the third quarter, the company had a lower operational cash flow because of a lower EBITDA and increase of working capital.

The increase of working capital because of the total liquidation of forfaiting operation, as we have been doing during the past quarter, pay of services and freight and paying CapEx suppliers. CapEx was slightly below than last quarter, highlighting the PCI project, the beginning of Coke Plant 2. And as a consequence, the cash flow of the company was negative by BRL 36 million. Usiminas maintained a capital structure very robust, with net cash of BRL 471 million and a negative amortization for We have a sound debt profile, very sound debt profile, and we believe that it will continue like this during the next two years.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Thank you, Diego, Marcelo. Now we will go to our Q&A session. Our first question is for Marcelo, is about commercial defense.

Caio Ribeiro
Analyst, Bank of America

Caio Ribeiro from Bank of America. Marcelo, regarding the anti-dumping measure that would put tariffs on Chinese steel. Do you believe that you will be able to increase price or you will capture additional share? Will you increase your margins, or you will create a strategy to improve your market share? What is the management views on possible measures to protect the steel industry because of the government's actions? Any uptake of view regarding the hot-rolled flat products?

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

Well, clearly, the anti-dumping decisions avoid the inflow of steel with subsidies. Clearly, through an important job through the NGK team was verified. We are totally focused in the improvement of margins. Our focus on competitiveness is clearly aligned with the segments of higher added value of our industry, like the automobile industry. Now, as the commercial defense measures are visible and active, this allows us to gain market share by and large. I say this because today, the inflow is around 20%, when historically it used to be 10% 10 years ago. The surplus of Chinese products, they've reduced their consumption 200 million, and they are exporting over 100 million tons. This flow is geared toward markets that have greater exposure, like Brazil.

Before the current situation, we are focused to recover margins in the segments of greater contribution and share recovery as the commercial defense measures block the entry of subsidized product. Regarding anti-dumping of hot-rolled flat products, the legal process will be concluded in December, and we do trust that we will see progress and that there will be a definition in the upcoming weeks.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Thank you, Marcelo. The next question for you, it is something that concerns us, the indirect import. Pedro Mello from Citi.

Pedro Mello
Analyst, Citi

Based on the strong pressure of imports from China, Egypt, and Vietnam, and the entry of automobiles, are there actions to investigate anti-dumping actions of these countries and fight against all of these actions?

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

We are very active with our colleagues from all of the value chain, from the automobile sector, and the spare part industry is one of the industries that has been affected. We do have a fluid communication with the government authorities as well. I would like to highlight that we have created defense measure that in part have mitigated the inflow of imported products, subsidized product. Nonetheless, we need more measures. We have protocol, the renovation of the NCMs. This was a measure that was adopted by MDIC in the beginning of 2026. We are following up with attention.

The tariff systems, we expect anti-dumping of hot-rolled flat measures will be issues, and anti-dumping measures are a complement, but this takes like 18 months, and international trade, it is much more accelerated. So, what we're thinking and what we're sharing with government authorities are additional measures that will allow us to add quicker and include the value chain as well, to include our customers, our clients.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Thank you, Marcelo. The next question, Diego. Daniel Sasson from Itaú.

Daniel Sasson
Analyst, Itaú

The fall in the—w ill the cost continue pressure on Q3, and the outlook suggest a new pressure on Q3? When do you believe that the cost per ton will improve, and what are the main drivers of incremental pressure?

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

Thank you, Daniel. Therefore, what happened during this quarter were two things. There was an increase of slab prices and coke price increase as well for the next quarter. We expect a stable price for slabs. But the increase of coke prices will be more significant or higher during the next quarter. Well, coke prices are driven by a situation, a drought of Indonesia that is a great coke supplier. Therefore, the coke demand is leaner.

Daniel Sasson
Analyst, Itaú

When will the situation normalize?

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

It's very difficult to say, but perhaps next year. We believe that situation will not go back to normal during next quarter.

Daniel Sasson
Analyst, Itaú

Our next quarter, Diego, about prices. There are a number of people that want to better understand the price dynamic. Daniel Sasson from Itaú BBA. With strong volumes during Q3, the net revenue per ton in the domestic market was below expectation. How are you seeing the Brazilian price environment for the next quarter and the beginning of the year? Is there a space to increase prices to offset costs?

Marcelo Vasconcelos
Analyst, Bradesco

Marcelo Vasconcellos from Bradesco. T he realized price was practically flat quarter-on-quarter. Now, this suggests price concessions throughout the quarter. Within this context, do you see the price dynamic? The price dynamic touches the same thing.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

We have JP Morgan as well. Ricardo Monegaglia from Safra wants to know if with the depreciation of the exchange rate and cost inflation scenario, can we start to think about increases of steel prices in Brazil? Marcelo Arazi from BTG and Caio Greiner are also asking the same thing. These are the questions regarding price. Diego, you have the floor.

Diego Garcia
VP of Finance and IR, Usiminas

The evolution of the price during this quarter was highly related to the mix changes. There were lower sales to the industry that were offset by higher sales to the distribution sector, and this had a negative effect that was offset by a higher level of sales in the automobile industry. Now, regarding the price dynamic for the next quarter, Marcelo, I believe you could answer this question.

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

For next quarter, as I already mentioned, we're focused in improving the profitability of the steel unit, and we believe that seasonality, we have holidays, vacations, and this hinders the transfer of prices. But we are encouraged to increase costs because of the impact on energy and other factors, as Diego mentioned. This has to be transferred to the market.

Daniel Sasson
Analyst, Itaú

Thank you. Still on prices. Daniel Sasson. Th e price at the end and the average of the quarter. What was the price like in September in comparison to the average price of the quarter?

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

Average, slightly below. Very slightly below, I would say.

Henrique Braga
Analyst, Morgan Stanley

Now, the industry prices. Henrique Braga from Morgan Stanley, Do you believe that there will be a carryover to the industrial sector during Q4?

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

Let's say, negotiations are underway, and this started weeks ago, and I believe that during the next negotiations, as the increases persist, we have to remember that it is important to see that to our costs, what is connected, iron ore, coke, and coal. As these raw materials and the energy, as they impact our prices, we will try to negotiate. Everything has to be aligned to these facts and this evolution.

Henrique Marques
Analyst, Goldman Sachs

Diego and Marcelo, the steel unit strategy, Henrique Marques from Goldman Sachs. What can we expect in terms of commercial strategy in the steel unit? Value over volume, or will you increase the volume of share?

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

Absolutely, value over volume. Our target is to differentiate ourselves with products of higher added value, and we're focused on earnings, customer service, product development. This is clearly our main objective.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Thank you, Marcelo.

Marcelo Arazi
Analyst, BTG

About demand, we have three questions. Marcelo Arazi from BTG. Wh at is the availability for next year demand, where there'll be a drop in volumes because of the macroeconomic scenario. How can this impact the cost and the dilution of fixed cost?

Guilherme Nippes
Analyst, XP

Guilherme Nippes from XP. How do you see the market dynamic with pressure prices and lower levels of imports that could lead to a more favorable environment? Do you see a slowdown in 2027 regarding steel demand and the price of iron ore? Can this impact Usiminas' portfolio?

Caio Greiner
Analyst, UBS

Caio Greiner from UBS. Within this difficult demand scenario, what can accelerate the demand in the upcoming months and in 2027?

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Diego, Marcelo.

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

Well, here, first and foremost, the World Steel Association forecast presented the forecast of steel consumption for the world and the region. In the case of Brazil, there are expectations that the consumption will drop during 2027, reflecting what is happening. With the strong pressure from the high interest rates, that does impact the indebtedness of families and also the high cost of capital for the development of the industry and construction industry and other sectors that are affected by high rates. This is a challenging environment. I said that we have to work with two fronts, commercial defense, to avoid the worldwide surplus of manufacturing products that don't go to the U.S. and Europe that have created strong barriers.

The second important aspect that is a challenge for the government is to create macroeconomic conditions that will allow greater growth and sustainable growth, and to focus on things that impact high interest rates that we face. What we have for 2027, undoubtedly, would be a number of challenges, and everything deteriorated by the international context and the geopolitical condition, and the price of energy creates a very important variable which has macro impacts.

Caio Greiner
Analyst, UBS

Thank you, Marcelo.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

I have a question from JP Morgan regarding productivity and costs. For Matheus Vasconcelos, since the reform of Blast Furnace 3, we see that business is improving productivity for a number of time, has been offset by cost of raw material. During this quarter, it was slabs and coal. Is there an initiative to see this increase of productivity reflecting better on costs? What can we do in order to have more effective costs?

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

Thank you, Tathiane, Matheus, Pedro. If we measure a number of operational parameters, we can say, for instance, that in terms of working conditions, we've increased 20% our performance. This means that we can produce 20% more with the same structure of equipment and human resources. This is a cost improvement which is significant. We can also say that we completed our investment on the PCI injection. And we are accelerating it at its maximum performance. During the past quarter, we were able to increase the injection rates. We are at full performance during this quarter. And I would say this allows us to reduce, by 20% the need of coke.

There are measures that we're focusing on right now in all areas in order to increase our efficiency. And also, in all contracts, especially the contracts that are labor and equipment intensive in these fronts, we're starting to capitalize on initiatives that started years ago, improving efficiency by 10 and 20% that are visible. And moreover, we have a number of activities, stronger activities to carry out restructurings that have been mapped. And we will capitalize on this in the upcoming months. And just adding all our projects underway, the main projects aim at improving our costs, gas meters that will be completed during the first semester of 2027, and the repairs of the Coke Plant.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Thank you. Our next question is regarding costs. Pedro Mello from Citi wants to know.

Pedro Mello
Analyst, Citi

Is there an additional lever that can block the mix and cost pressure in the short term to sustain a higher EBITDA level next year?

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Marcelo, you have the floor.

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

Well, yes. I would say that there are two measures that directly impact how we use our equipment. These are connected to the PCI and the new gas meter, which will become operational during the first semester of 2027. With this, we will be able to reduce the purchase of natural gas and also the use of coke. We do believe that we will capitalize on these points in the upcoming months until mid-2027, as soon as we incorporate the gas meter. There are other—we're focusing on better gas costs and energy efficiency. The cost of gas is a burden. We pay four times what our neighbors in other countries in the region pay, and this is why I celebrate what happened in the auction. We are focusing on using more efficiently energy, and as I said, re-dimensioning our productive restructuring to focus on lines that contribute more to our business.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Thank you, Marcelo.

Ricardo Monegaglia
Analyst, Safra

Diego, a question regarding the exchange rate. Ricardo Monegaglia from Safra. Could you give us an update regarding the company's investment plan can change with the current scenario of exchange rate, my iron ore, and interest rates?

Diego Garcia
VP of Finance and IR, Usiminas

Regarding the steel unit projects, nothing changes because, as a matter of fact, the biggest projects, that would be the gas meters, the repair of the Coke Plant 2, all aim at diminishing costs that are in dollars. With the cokes, we will have greater capacity to produce coke, and we will have to purchase less coke. If we would have finished this project some time ago, currently, we wouldn't be so exposed to the increase of price of coke that we're seeing. The gas meter will also diminish the consumption of natural gas that is an input paid in dollars. Nothing changes, actually.

I would say they're even more necessary, these investments, right? What we are doing regarding our CapEx policy, by and large, we are more focused on these investments.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Thank you, Diego and Marcelo.

Now, regarding the automobile industry, there are a number of people that want to know more. Tathiane Candini from JP Morgan, Ricardo Monegaglia, Safra, Pedro Mello, Citi, Henrique Marques, Goldman Sachs, Caio Greiner, UBS, Henrique Braga, Morgan Stanley. "What are your prospects for the negotiation with the automobile industry? Now with an FX more depreciated, can we expect an upward review? Considering the impact of indirect imports with the assembly lines in Brazil, how is this dynamic influencing the preliminary talks for next year's contract? Can you say that you felt resistance from the assembly lines when you talk about transferring or carrying over this price to them?"

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

I can't give you details about this because negotiations are still in the initial stage. Once again, every time we've developed these contract dynamics, we've worked in partnership to defend the industry's competitiveness, bearing in mind the situation of international prices, as I mentioned, that are highly related to the cost of energy, raw material, and other things. What we had to do as a value chain is to establish defense rules that will allow us to level or diminish unloyal competition, or the inflow has doubled. So, when we see there was an increase of 17% in 2026, and this was capitalized by the import of cars and greater SKDs. The domestic market only captured 3% for SKD that is assembled in the country.

You eliminate between eight and two employees of the value chain. This is why it's so important to make the government aware of the importance of creating defense mechanisms that will allow us to limit the impact that destroys the industrial network. For example, the U.S. charges 100% on Chinese cars, Europe 50% in taxes when they are imported. China is exporting 10 million vehicles to the region, and they increase due to a number of factors, their exports. I believe that this is the main reason of concern of the local industry.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Thank you, Marcelo. We have a number of questions regarding the mining unit, and there are many, and I will try to group them in a certain way. Tathiane Candini from JP Morgan wants to know if the mining result was compressed, but by and large is what they expected with the drop, with the freight cost, the decide of closing capacity. Marcelo Vasconcellos says, "At one level of iron ore, would it make sense to reinitiate Samambaia, and if the market conditions continue more challenging, how should we think about volumes during Q4?" Caio Ribeiro from Bank of America, "There was a depreciation of the BRL, but a recent increase of the freight as well. Does anything change regarding decisions of resuming operations?"

Pedro Mello from Citi, "What is the exact combination of the price of iron ore, 62% of iron, and the tariff of maritime freight to justify the opening of this plant? Do you believe that what you're doing should be extended during the next semester? Marcelo Arazi basically asked the same thing, and he says that the ramp-up of Simandou is the greatest reason why you have weak iron ore prices. Carlos de Alba wants to know about the expectations of iron ore of Q4 and the beginning of 2027 because of all the challenges mentioned. This question has a number of sides, and if I forget something, I will remind you.

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

Okay. All right. Number one, we do not see a significant drop of freight cost, which is sustainable. What we saw during this quarter was the IODEX dropped in price and ended at prices around 90. This is why the decision of closing Samambaia capacity will maintain. It is important to clarify, we are harnessing this moment in order to improve and to restructure the Samambaia operations, and when conditions come back to a normal level, we will be able continue with the operations. Now, regarding the price levels of iron ore and freight, what would make sense to reopen Samambaia, we should first see the conditions of the first quarter. Under these conditions, it did make sense. The volumes of Q4 will be lower than that of Q3, and they are affected by the market situation.

Now, regarding the depreciation of the BRL, this affects MUSA positively because the costs, the operational costs are mainly in BRLs. Nonetheless, this is not sufficient to offset the price conditions of iron ore and freight, so we do not believe that the BRL depreciation will be enough to resume the Samambaia operations.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Pedro wants to know about a price level of iron ore and a tariff that would make sense to resume the Samambaia operation.

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

This is what we saw during the first quarter of the year. During this period, it did make sense. You just need to analyze these conditions.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Another follow-up would be from Marcelo Arazi.

Marcelo Arazi
Analyst, BTG

If the Simandou ramp-up is the greatest reason for weak prices, how do you see this?

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

When we see the iron ore situation, we can clearly see that Brazil has been more impacted than other sources like Australia. Australia, for instance, is 1/3 of the distance that Brazil must displace itself to go to China. There was a drop in Chinese consumption. There has been less iron ore consumption during the past three years. This has dropped between 7% and 8%. This was offset by export, and everybody's seeing that.

Nonetheless, mainly Brazil suffers additional pressure, that is freight, the C3 freight, which has been impacted by the geopolitical situation, the conflict in the Middle East and the availability of a type of ship. I believe that it will take some time for the freight market to normalize itself. So, the mining industry in Brazil is suffering because of macro conditions that will require a deep review of the cost and the margins, as we are doing, that we practically reacted immediately when we realized that these conditions could continue during the upcoming months. So, focus and efficiency is of utmost importance here.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Thank you, Marcelo. Moreover, still about this theme, Tathiane Candini and Carlos de Alba from Morgan Stanley, they want to know, is there is an initiative that could help you with costs from here on? If you consider derivative strategies for exchange rate, how the current scenario of freight and iron ore affects the strategy of MUSA? What are the leverage to contain this, especially freight and C1? They ask about the iron ore cost for the upcoming quarters. Marcelo, Diego?

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

I can say here, we have significantly dropped the fixed cost and general expenses over 30%. We have completely restructured 100% of transportation contracts. We are verifying, we are implementing additional measures to change the way we hire and resourcing areas with a gain of efficiency of over 30%. We are at full speed to have a more efficient operation that will allow us to improve the margins of our current operations and to be better prepared as soon as we are able to go back to normal levels with, as soon as there are more favorable conditions in the market.

Derivative strategies, what we also see in our balance is our exposure to other currencies that are not the dollar, and what we have is a natural hedge that here we do not see today. This is something that we always pay attention to. Today's banker, yes, we do derivatives for the iron ore prices, and has helped us to perform sales, especially during the last quarter. This is a theme that we have analyzed, but with the spot prices of oil, they do not make sense today, but this is something that we will continue assessing.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Our outlook in a release, Daniel Sasson from Itaú BBA, "You showed a slight drop of steel during Q4 with better mix and prices and pressured prices. Could you give us more color regarding which of these factors will affect more the margin of this quarter? What is seasonal and structural during 2027?" Henrique Marques from Goldman Sachs says, "In the outlook and the expectation of price increase, is there an impact of the new exchange rate after the elections?" Marcelo Vasconcellos says, "What is the dimension of this increase? What should we expect, and how do you see the margin outlook?" Pedro, this is the same theme. Diego?

Diego Garcia
VP of Finance and IR, Usiminas

Regarding what is seasonal, what is not seasonal, the low volume in the domestic market clearly is a seasonable effect. The main factors that will increase the cost that we expect for the upcoming quarters that are mainly connected to the increase of coke prices, more than seasonal, I would say, are part of a situation. This is something that is happening to Indonesia that will normalize itself at certain moment.

Right now, it is very difficult to predict what is going to happen, but we do not believe that this is a strict structural issue that will extend itself for a long period of time. Regarding the new exchange rate level, I believe it is too early to talk about this new exchange rate level. Practically 70% of our costs are in dollar. We are not performing foreign exchange projections. We are seeing the costs in the currency that they are paid in.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Foreign exchange rate, Daniel Sasson from Itaú BBA. Caio Greiner from XP, they want to know, can you quantify the impact of a weaker BRL? Can you better quantify the impact of higher cost and the depreciation of the BRL in the results of the upcoming quarter, and what impact do you expect in terms of margin during next quarter?

Diego Garcia
VP of Finance and IR, Usiminas

As I already mentioned, 70% of our costs are in dollars. So, a higher exchange rate will reflect on a higher cost when it comes out in BRLs. Now, regarding the mining unit, the effect is marginally positive. Nonetheless, the market environment will not be very relevant.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Our question before last.

Daniel Sasson
Analyst, Itaú

The Compactos project. Daniel Sasson from Itaú BBA. When will we expect a final decision on the potential investment that there will be on Compactos?

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

As we've mentioned throughout our calls, the process is underway. The licensing process is underway, and we believe that this will be completed in the upcoming months. This is a project that aims at the upcoming 20 years. So, once the licensing is concluded, I believe that the decision will adopted in 2027. We are working in detail engineering parallelly. This is important evolution, and this is very important in the design and the project.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Now, this is the question before last.

Pedro Mello
Analyst, Citi

Regarding the six by one shift. Pedro Mello from Citi. How do you see the impact on the approval of the six by one shift?"

Marcelo Chara
CEO, Usiminas

We are assessing this. We don't see a relevant negative impact. Most of our personnel already worked under conditions that will not be affected by this new approval.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Our last question, Diego.

Ricardo Monegaglia
Analyst, Safra

From Ricardo Monegaglia. That would be sales to the foreign market. How much of the total produced steel in the company can be exported to the foreign market? Is there a physical limit?

Diego Garcia
VP of Finance and IR, Usiminas

This is a difficult question. Physical limit, we're far from this. What we need in order to export are conditions that will give us reasonable profit. This is the most difficult part, but we do not see a limit here. Now, of course, our priority will always be the domestic market. If we would have higher demand and reasonable revenues, yes, we could export more.

Leonardo Karam
Investor Relations Director, Usiminas

Thank you, Marcelo. Thank you, Diego. Well, we will now bring our Q&A session to the end. We would like to thank all of you for participating. If you have any questions, our IR team is at your disposal, and we wish you good afternoon.