According to export data from the US Department of Commerce, US exports of hot rolled sheets totaled 51,317 mt in December 2018, down 19.1 percent from November and down 22.3 percent from December 2017 levels. By value, HRC exports totaled $49.5 million in December, compared to $40.8 million in the previous month and $49.7 million the same month last year.
The US shipped the most HRC to Mexico in December with 39,554 mt, compared to 31,819 mt in November and 45,637 mt in December 2017. Other top destinations included Canada, with 10,000 mt. There were no other significant destinations (1,000 mt or more) for US HRC exports in December.
As for the full-year 2018, US HRC exports totaled 611,055 mt, down 32.6 percent from 2017 totals. By value, HRC exports totaled $551.0 million in 2018, compared to $660.4 million in 2017.