According to export data from the US Department of Commerce, US exports of plates in coil totaled 21,965 mt in December 2018, down 23.3 percent from November and down 38.0 percent from December 2017 levels. By value, hot rolled bar exports totaled $18.7 million in December, compared to $24.6 million in the previous month and $28.1 million in December 2017.
The US shipped the most plates in coil to Mexico in December with 18,132 mt, compared to 24,065 mt in November and 20,179 mt in December 2017. Other top destinations included Canada, with 3,016 mt. There were no other significant destinations (1,000 mt or more) for US plates in coil exports in December.
As for the full-year 2018, US plates in coil exports totaled 344,533 mt, down 40.6 percent from 2017 totals. By value, plates in coil exports totaled $300.4 million in 2018, compared to $404.8 million in 2017.