According to export data from the US Department of Commerce, monthly steel exports in December decreased 14.8 percent from November to total 682,183 mt. A year-on-year comparison shows a 3.5 percent increase. In terms of value, US steel exports in December totaled $930.7 million, compared to $1.07 billion in November and $841.1 million in December 2016.
Steel exports to Canada in December decreased 19.9 percent from the preceding month to 314,010 mt, and increased 4.2 percent from December 2016. Exports to Mexico decreased by 16.2 percent month-on-month to 254,958 mt, which is down 8.4 percent from the same month a year ago.
Other top destinations for US steel exports in December include: Malta, with 18,795 mt; Italy, with 15,337 mt; China, with 8,661 mt; India, with 6,810 mt; and Belgium, with 5,345 mt.
Major steel products exported in December include cut-length plates, at 87,194 mt; HDG, at 81,391 mt; hot rolled sheets, at 66,036 mt; heavy structural shapes, at 38,279 mt; and cold rolled sheets, at 35,924 mt.