US ferrous scrap exports declined in May, but Turkey, Bangladesh, and Taiwan remained the main shipping destinations for material from the US.
Total exports decreased by 12pc in May to 1.33mn mt from 1.51mn mt during the same month in 2019, according to US Census Bureau data. However, US ferrous exports have grown by 6pc to 6.50mn mt from January to May compared with 6.11mn mt through the first five months of last year.
Exports to Turkey declined by 13pc to 297,816mt in May from 341,653mt during the same month in 2019. From January to May exports to the country rose by 13pc to 1.55mn mt from 1.36mt during the first five months of 2019.
US ferrous exports to Bangladesh reached 274,424mt in May 2020, surging by 105pc from 133,698mt during the same month last year. Through the first five months of 2020, US exports to Bangladesh were 602,254mt, rising substantially by 73pc from 347,351mt during the same five-month period in 2019.
US ferrous shipments to Taiwan rose by 11pc in May to 136,858mt from 122,786mt during the same month in 2019. Through the first five months of 2020, exports to Taiwan rose by 6pc to 663,407mt from 626,518mt during the same period a year ago.
East Coast
East coast ferrous scrap exports reached 536,171mt in May from 477,855mt in the previous month.
West Coast
West coast ferrous scrap exports hit 370,247mt in May, rising from 279,107mt in April.
Courier Low-Value Shipments (CLVS)
Canada reduced staff at certain ports of entry and to offset the lower manpower allowed for shipments under the CLVS program. It accounted for 108,998mt of ferrous scrap exports from the US.
North America
US ferrous scrap exports to North American countries reached 289,385mt in May, increasing from 208,803mt a month earlier. Through the first five months of the year, North American countries received 1.05mn mt of US ferrous scrap shipments.
Canada received 168,183mt of US ferrous scrap in May, up from 151,814mt one month earlier. Through the first five months of the year, the US exported 297,136mt of ferrous scrap to Canada.
Mexico imported 121,202mt of US ferrous scrap in May, shrinking from 192,989mt one month earlier. Through the first five months of 2020, Mexico imported 7,61,844mt of US ferrous scrap.