January Steel Exports Recover 6% from December Dip, 12MMA Remains Strong

U.S. steel exports rose 6% in January to 691,000 net tons, a partial recovery following December’s 10% drop, according to the latest U.S. Department of Commerce data. While the last few months have seen declining export levels, the 12-month moving average through January has reached a 34-month high. January exports are 3% higher than levels seen one year ago.

As shown in the graph below, March and June of 2021 saw the two highest monthly export levels in the last three years (790,000 and 778,000 tons, respectively), while May 2020 saw a 24-year low of 374,000 tons.

Brett Linton

Brett Linton is a digital operations analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.

Brett Linton

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