According to export data from the US Department of Commerce, US exports of light-shaped bar (merchant bar) totaled 5,153 mt in January 2023, up 7.2 percent from December and up 13.7 percent from January 2022. By value, merchant bar exports totaled $6.2 million in January, compared to $5.6 million in the previous month and $6.2 million the same month last year.
The US shipped the most merchant bar to Mexico in January with 2,942 mt, compared to 3,267 mt in December and 2,437 mt in January 2022. Other top destinations included Canada, with 2,089 mt. There were no other significant destinations (1,000 mt or more) for US merchant bar exports in January.