According to the Mineral Industry Survey released by the US Geological Survey (USGS), US iron ore production in February this year was 3.9 million mt, falling 7.1 percent from the January level and down by 8.7 percent year on year. Iron ore shipments in the US in February totaled 661,000 mt, down significantly compared to the 3.1 million mt recorded in January and down 15.7 percent year on year.
In February, US iron ore exports amounted to 483,000 mt, falling strongly by 52.65 percent month on month. Iron ore exports to Canada, the largest iron ore export destination of the US, totaled 331,000 mt, down 60 percent, while exports to Mexico amounted to 103,000 metric tons, falling 15 percent, both compared to January.
Meanwhile, in February pig iron production in the US totaled 2.8 million mt, falling 9.8 percent month on month and down 9.5 percent compared to February 2012. US crude steel production via blast furnaces in the month in question fell by 7.6 percent compared to January and was down 4.9 percent year on year, amounting to 2.5 million mt, while crude steel production using electric arc furnaces (EAFs) amounted to 4 million mt, down by 5.8 percent compared to January and down 9.8 percent year on year.