Features

Steel exports recover in July
Written by Brett Linton
September 10, 2024
Following May’s five-month low, US steel exports ticked higher in July, according to the latest US Department of Commerce data. The amount of steel exiting the country rose 6% month on month (m/m) to 818,000 short tons (st). This is back in line with trade levels seen in recent months.
July exports are 2% greater than the average monthly rate of 2024 to date (803,000 st), but down 3% from the same month last year (845,000 st).

Monthly averages
Looking at exports on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis can smooth out the fluctuations seen month to month. Export volumes had trended downward throughout the second half of last year. The 3MMA changed course as it entered 2024, peaking at 825,000 st in April. The 3MMA has declined since then but remains relatively strong in July at 792,000 st, down 4% from April’s high.
Exports can be annualized on a 12-month moving average (12MMA) basis to further dampen month-to-month variations and highlight historical trends. From this perspective, steel exports have overall moved higher since 2020. The 12MMA reached a five-and-a-halfd-year high in February (805,000 st), easing each month since. The 12MMA through July remains healthy at 780,000 st, but is the lowest rate recorded over the last year.

Exports by product
Changes in monthly export rates were mixed across the major flat-rolled steel products we track, with four moving higher and three declining. The biggest monthly movers from June to July were hot-rolled sheet (+15%), other-metallic coated (+14%), and coiled plate (-13%).

Exports of most products were down compared to the same month last year, apart from galvanized sheet and other-metallic coated. Significant year-on-year (y/y) changes were witnessed in other-metallic coated exports (+30%), plate in coils (-14%), and hot-rolled sheet (-11%).

Figure 4 shows a history of exports by product on a 3MMA basis.

Note that most steel exported from the US is destined for USMCA trading partners Canada and Mexico. Over half of all exports in July went to Mexico (54%), followed by 38% to Canada. The next largest recipients were Honduras at 1% (with an unusual surge in semi-finished exports), followed by China, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic at less than 1% each.

Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Features

Final Thoughts
I’ve been getting some calls lately from some of you who want to kick around ideas on where prices might bottom and when.

SMU Survey: Sheet and plate lead times hold steady
Sheet and plate lead times held steady yet again this week, according to steel buyers responding to our latest market survey, a trend in place since May.

ITC votes to keep HR duties after sunset review
The US government determined this week that hot-rolled steel imports from a handful of countries continue to threaten the domestic steel industry.

SMU Survey: Most buyers say mills remain negotiable on prices
The majority of steel buyers responding to this week’s market survey continue to report that mills are open to negotiating spot prices on sheet and plate products.

Steel Summit: Service center CEOs share straight talk on markets, customers, future
The chief executives from Majestic Steel, Olympic Steel, and Worthington Steel swapped notes on inventory discipline, customer trust, and the race to turn AI from hype into results.