According to the Mineral Industry Survey released by the US Geological Survey, US iron ore production in September this year was 4.34 million tonne, nearly equal to the August level and down 1.4% YoY.
In the first nine months of the year, iron ore production in the US totaled 38.3 million tonne, falling 4.25% compared to the same period of the previous year.
Meanwhile, in September pig iron production in the US totaled 2.44 million tonne, falling 14.7% MoM and down 3.9% compared to the same month of the previous year. US crude steel production via blast furnaces in the month in question fell by 13.5% compared to August and was down by 11.7% YoY, amounting to 2.7 million tonne, while crude steel production using EAFs amounted to 4.1 million tonne, falling 8.1% MoM and down 1.5% compared to September 2011.
Iron ore shipments in the US in September totaled 4.67 million tonne, down 10.5% compared to August and falling by 17% compared to September 2011. In the first nine months of the year, US iron ore shipments rose 0.8% to 38.5 million tonne, compared to January to September 2011.
In September this year, US iron ore exports amounted to 793,000 tonne, falling 23% MoM. Iron ore exports to Canada, the largest iron ore export destination of the US decreased 46% in September compared to August, totaling 340,000 tonne, while exports to China amounted to 359,000 metric tonne, rising by 2.3% over the previous month.
