US ferrous scrap exports declined on an annual basis in June, with Turkey, Canada, and Taiwan being the main shipping destinations for material from the US.
Total exports decreased by 14pc in June to 1.34mn mt from 1.56mn mt during the corresponding month in 2019, according to US Census Bureau data. However, year-to-date, US ferrous exports have grown by 2pc to 7.84mn mt from 7.67mn mt through the first six months of last year.
Ferrous scrap exports saw a considerable surge in H1 2020 despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Turkey was the largest importer, taking in 1.9mn mt of US ferrous scrap, up 11pc from H1 2019. Mexico and Taiwan followed with inclines of 25pc and 2pc to 826,935mt and 796,068mt, respectively, during the same period.
Canadian imports of US ferrous scrap quadrupled in June, tallying at 228,789mt, from 40,759mt in June 2019, making it the second-largest consumer during the month, surpassing Taiwan and Mexico. It accounted for 75pc of North American shipments in June.
East Coast
East coast ferrous scrap exports reached 800,703mt in June, rising from 477,855mt in the previous month.
West Coast
West coast ferrous scrap exports hit 179,170mt in June, falling from 370,247mt in the previous month.
Courier Low-Value Shipments (CLVS) Program
Canada reduced manpower at certain ports during the pandemic to match the reduced staff in shipping under CLVS. This accounted for 201,315mt of US ferrous scrap exports.
North America
US ferrous scrap exports to North American countries reached 292,142mt in June, compared to 289,385mt a month earlier. However, Mexico’s imports plummeted to 63,353mt from 121,202mt in May, as the country went into lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through the first six months of the year, the US exported 525,925mt of ferrous scrap to Canada, a rise of 49pc from the first half of 2019. Mexico has imported 826,935mt in the Jan-Jun period.