Steel Products Prices North America

Ferrous Scrap Exports through March
Written by Brett Linton
May 16, 2016
March ferrous scrap exports totaled 1,096,231 net tons (994,485 metric tons) with Turkey, India, Mexico, Korea, and Taiwan being the top five countries receiving scrap from the United States. These five countries accounted for 73.5 percent of all scrap exports.
Total March ferrous scrap exports were 3.6 percent lower than previous month. March figures were lower than the 12 month moving average of 1,128,571 tons per month (April 2015 through March 2016 monthly average), but higher than the 3 month moving average of 947,068 tons per month (January 2016 through March 2016 monthly average).
The most significant change month over month went to Canada, which declined 68.1 percent from 106,948 tons in February to 34,076 tons in March. Canada’s 12 month moving average is just over 60,000 tons, suggesting February figures were abnormally high while March data was slightly low. Other significant changes include a 106.4 percent rise in Mexican tonnage, with 64,131 tons of exports in February jumping to 132,373 tons in March. Mexico’s 12 month moving average is 104,321 tons.
Comparing March 2016 to March 2015, March 2016 total scrap exports are 19.2 percent lower than the same month one year ago. This is primarily due to a heavy decline in tonnage to Taiwan and China, with Canada and Vietnam showing smaller declines also. An increase in exports to Turkey and India slightly negated the change.
The table below lists the top eight importing countries along with the total amount of exported ferrous scrap.
Below is a graph showing the history of total ferrous scrap exports, to use it’s interactive features and explore different countries you must visit out website by clicking here. If you need assistance with either logging in or navigating the website, please contact our office at 800-432-3475 or info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.

Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products Prices North America

Thin demand keeps plate prices hovering at lowest levels since February
Participants in the domestic plate market say spot prices appear to have hit the floor, and they continue to linger there. They say demand for steel remains thin, with plate products no exception.

SMU Price Ranges: HR crawls back to $800/ton
SMU’s HR price stands at $800/st on average, up $5/st from last week. The modest gain came as the low end of our range firmed, and despite the high end of our range declining slightly.

SMU successfully completes IOSCO review
SMU has successfully completed an external review of all our prices. The review has concluded that they algin with principles set by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

Domestic plate prices could heat up despite so-so demand, market sources say
Some sources also speculated that plate could see further price increases thanks to modest but steady demand, lower imports, mill maintenance outages, and end markets less immediately affected by tariff-related disruptions.

SMU Price Ranges: HR holds, galv slips amid competing market narratives
SMU’s sheet and plate prices see-sawed this week as hot-rolled (HR) coil prices held their ground while prices for galvanized product slipped.