According to export data from the US Department of Commerce, US exports of light-shaped bar (merchant bar) totaled 4,884 mt in August 2023, down 31.0 percent from July and down 9.9 percent from August 2022. By value, merchant bar exports totaled $6.3 million in August, compared to $9.3 million in the previous month and $7.4 million the same month last year.
The US shipped the most merchant bar to Mexico in August with 3,137 mt, compared to 5,273 mt in July and 3,204 mt in August 2022. Other top destinations included Canada, with 1,688 mt. There were no other significant destinations (1,000 mt or more) for US merchant bar exports in August.