US steel exports rose 10.5% in January compared with December, but fell 10.6% year on year, according to US Department of Commerce data updated Monday.
In January, the US exported 873,674 mt of steel mill products, up from 790,507 mt in December. In January 2013, the US exported 921,027 mt of steel products.
"While the improvement in exports in January is a positive sign, the comparison with January 2013 is not encouraging -- exports declined to all our regional markets, including NAFTA. With the U.S. steel market starting 2014 on a stronger note compared to 2013, the condition of the international markets early in 2014 appears not to be as positive, at least at this point in time," American Institute for International Steel Executive Director Richard Chriss said in a statement.
US exports to Canada increased 13% month on month, reaching 479,135 in January, but have fallen 8% year on year. Exports to Mexico also rose 12% to 303,014 mt from December but have fallen 3% year on year.
The Dominican Republic was the third largest export destination in January with 7,679 mt of steel shipped, up from 1,326 mt in December.
Shipments of the top exported product, hot-dipped galvanized sheet and strip, increased nearly 26% month on month to 105,071 mt and are up 6% year on year.
Cut plate exports edged up nearly 1% to 98,224 mt in January, though have fallen nearly 11% year on year.
Exports of heavy structural shapes rose 4% to 82,368 mt in January, which is also a 9% gain from a year ago.
Hot-rolled coil exports slipped 7% month on month and nearly 15% year on year to 55,416 mt in January. US exports of cold-rolled coil totaled 47,343 mt in January, representing an 8% pick up from December but are down 22% from January 2013.
