According to export data from the US Department of Commerce, US exports of tool steel totaled 4,893 mt in December 2018, down 40.0 percent from November and down 34.3 percent from December 2017 levels. By value, tool steel exports totaled $8.1 million in December, compared to $11.5 million in the previous month and $11.1 million in December 2017.
The US shipped the most tool steel to Mexico in December with 4,384 mt, compared to 7,224 mt in November and 6,754 mt in December 2017. There were no other significant destinations (1,000 mt or more) for US tool steel exports in December.
As for the full-year 2018, US tool steel exports totaled 132,036 mt, up 26.2 percent from 2017 totals. By value, tool steel exports totaled $186.9 million in 2018, compared to $154.0 million in 2017.