According to export data from the US Department of Commerce, US exports of heavy structural shapes (including U, I, H, L, and T section beams) totaled 38,279 mt in December, down 15.3 percent from November but up 23.6 percent from December 2016 levels. By value, beam exports totaled $33.7 million in December, compared to $38.7 million in the previous month and $27.5 million the same month last year.
The US shipped the most beams to Canada in December with 28,133 mt, compared to 36,028 mt in November and 24,692 mt in December 2016. Other top destinations included Mexico, with 8,479 mt. There were no other significant destinations (1,000 mt or more) for US export beams in December.
For the full-year 2017, US beam exports totaled 451,054 mt, up 5.3 percent compared to 2016. By value, US beam exports totaled $403.5 million in 2017, compared to $376.5 million in 2016.
The US shipped the most beams to Canada in 2017, with 371,984 mt. Other top destinations included Mexico, with 61,096 mt; Dominican Republic, with 3,138 mt; Australia, with 2,190 mt; Panama, with 1,423 mt; and Brazil, with 1,339 mt.