According to export data from the US Department of Commerce, US exports of hot rolled bar totaled 23,459 mt in December 2018, down 21.3 percent from November and down 23.4 percent from December 2017 levels. By value, hot rolled bar exports totaled $27.8 million in December, compared to $33.1 million in the previous month and $31.3 million in December 2017.
The US shipped the most hot rolled bar to Mexico in December with 14,698 mt, compared to 19,980 mt in November and 14,780 mt in December 2017. Other top destinations included Canada, with 7,082 mt. There were no other significant destinations (1,000 mt or more) for US hot rolled bar exports in December.
As for the full-year 2018, US hot rolled bar exports totaled 451,313 mt, down 3.9 percent from 2017 totals. By value, hot rolled bar exports totaled $501.1 million in 2018, compared to $476.1 million in 2017.