According to export data from the US Department of Commerce, US exports of light-shaped bar (merchant bar) totaled 7,192 mt in May 2023, up 38.9 percent from April and up 24.1 percent from May 2022. By value, merchant bar exports totaled $9.3 million in May, compared to $6.7 million in the previous month and $7.6 million the same month last year.
The US shipped the most merchant bar to Mexico in May with 4,810 mt, compared to 3,357 mt in April and 3,319 mt in May 2022. Other top destinations included Canada, with 2,367 mt. There were no other significant destinations (1,000 mt or more) for US merchant bar exports in May.