US iron and steel scrap exports down 11 percent in 2012

According to the Mineral Industry Survey released by the US Geological Survey (USGS), stocks of imported and domestic scrap in the US at the end of December 2012 amounted to 3.7 million mt, up slightly from the end of November.
 
Exports of iron and steel scrap from the US in the month of December amounted to 1.6 million mt, up 16 percent compared to November but down 17.4 percent compared to the export figure recorded in December 2011. In the whole year of 2012, iron and steel scrap exports from the US totaled 9.4 million mt, decreasing by 11 percent compared to 2011. Turkey was the leading country of destination, with 2.5 million mt, accounting for 27 percent of total export tonnages, followed by Taiwan with 1.5 million mt and China with 1.3 million mt.
 
US imports of iron and steel scrap last year amounted to 3.7 million mt in 2012, stable compared to the 2011 level. Canada was the leading country of origin, exporting 3 million mt of iron and steel scrap to the US in the given year.