US steel exports plunged in November 2012

US steel exports fell to their lowest level in more than a year in November 2012, due to major decreases in semi-finished material.

Paragraph entered by Atlantic migration, in order for SteelFirst articles to display correctly on Metal Bulletin.

Steel exports totaled 905,404 tonnes for the month, down 15.8% from 1.08 million tonnes in October, according to data from the US Commerce Department’s Import Administration.

That was also lower than the 1.12 million tonnes reported in the same month in 2011.

Exports of semi-finished material plunged 94.4% to 2,371 tonnes after reaching 42,563 tonnes in October, largely due to declines in shipments to Oman, Italy and the Dominican Republic.

Other major decreases were seen in heavy structural shapes, down 9.4% to 93,018 tonnes; and hot-dipped galvanized sheet and strip, down 9.7% to 92,316 tonnes following a decline in shipments to Mexico.

Exports of standard rail products dropped to 6,368 tonnes, down 84.5% from 41,144 tonnes in October.

Monthly increases were logged in line pipe, up 15.5% to 45,915 tonnes; and oil country tubular goods (OCTG), up 5.2% to 28,911 tonnes.

What to read next
Fastmarkets has corrected its MB-STE-0816 Japan seamless Linepipe API 5L B fob and its MB-STE-0817 Japan seamless Linepipe API 5L X65 fob assessments, which were published incorrectly on Wednesday April 8 due to a procedural error.
Fastmarkets has decided to launch two weekly price assessments for graphite flake 94% C, -100 mesh and graphite flake 94% C, +80 mesh on an ex-works China basis on Thursday April 16.
Fastmarkets published its assessment of the MB-STE-0232 steel scrap No1 busheling, consumer buying price, delivered mill Chicago, $/gross ton on Thursday April 9, 2026.
Fastmarkets has suspended the publication of 10 of its CFR Jebel Ali steel pipe prices, effective April 7.
The publication of Fastmarkets’ nickel and cobalt mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) payable indicators on a CIF China, Japan and South Korea basis on Thursday April 2 was delayed because a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the publication times and holiday pricing schedule for a number of its base metal assessments for the Asian market, with the proposed changes to come into effect from Monday May 18.