The American Institute of International Steel (AIIS) reported Monday that according to government data, US steel exports increased 19 percent in March over February. Total steel exports in March 2011 were 1.132 million net tons (1.027 million metric tons) compared to 951,000 net tons (862,738 metric tons) in February 2011-a 19 percent month-on-month increase, but still a 1.7 percent decrease compared to March 2010.
"We believed that the low levels of exports in February could have been due to logistics disruptions related to weather in February and the shortness of the month, and so the return to healthier levels of exports in March seems to confirm that analysis. With the 12 percent rebound in exports to NAFTA, as well as even stronger growth in exports to other Western Hemisphere, 93 percent, and to Asia, 59 percent, it appears that the export business is back on track," said David Phelps, President, AIIS.