Steel Products

Steel Exports Drop in July but Remain High

Written by Laura Miller

September 12, 2023

US steel exports declined for a third consecutive month in July but remained elevated compared to recent years.

Exports of all steel products totaled 844,632 net tons in July, according to the latest figures from the US Department of Commerce. That was a 6% decline from June’s exports of 901,349 tons, and down from May 2023’s recent high of 914,018 tons (Fig. 1).

Looking at exports on a three-month moving average basis, we can see exports have been on the rise this year, with the 3MMA moving in July to its highest point since mid-2018 (Fig. 2).

The 12-month moving average (12MMA) of exports, meanwhile, has been inching up since mid-2021 and has begun to tick up higher over the past few months (Fig. 3).

Most major categories of flat-rolled steel declined from June to July (Fig. 4 and Table 1). Cold-rolled sheet was the one exception, rising 6% month on month to 79,007 tons – the highest level since May 2017, according to SMU’s files.

Cold rolled exports to Mexico were at a recent high of 61,147 tons. Overall shipments to Mexico dropped 10% MoM but remained high at 419,597 tons. As you will recall, we discussed more steel being exported to Mexico in last month’s export article.

We have a graphing tool available on our website where readers can further investigate historical export data in total and by product.

Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. Since 2007, she has held various editorial and marketing positions with steel industry publications, associations, and mills. In 2021, after a five-year hiatus working across other industries, she returned to steel trade journalism, joining SMU in 2022. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She can be reached at laura@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7869.

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