JOC Staff | Nov 13, 2012 2:56PM EST
Government data showed U.S. steel exports in September were 1.2 million tons, down 9.7 percent from August and 12.8 percent from September 2011, the American Institute for International Steel reported today.
“The decline in September is cause for concern for domestic steel mills and their trading company partners,” warned AIIS President David Phelps.
However, exports in the first nine months of 2012 were up 7.3 percent year-over-year, from 9.9 million tons to 10.6 million tons — on track to break the 2008 record tonnage, Phelps said.
Slowing economic growth internationally bodes ill for direct steel exports and exports of steel-intensive products, although U.S. market demand remains healthy overall, he added.
Imports of steel also dropped in September.
