US brass mill products imports rise, exports fall

US brass mill products imports increased in February, rising by 8pc from a year prior, while exports were down by 9pc.

Brass mill products imports totaled 39.7mn lbs in February, compared to 36.6mn lbs a year earlier, according to the Copper and Brass Fabricators Council. Year to date, imports rose by 9pc to 82.1mn lbs.

Imports from Germany led total volumes in February at 9.3mn lbs, followed by Mexico at 4.1mn lbs, South Korea at 3.2mn lbs, Canada at 3.1mn lbs and Japan at 2.8mn lbs.

Brass mill products exports fell to 18.9mn lbs in February from 20.7mn lbs in February 2018. Exports through the first two months of the year were down by 7pc to 37.8mn lbs.

The top destination for US exports of brass mill products was Mexico at 6.5mn lbs, followed by Canada at 6.1mn lbs, United Arab Emirates at 1.1mn lbs, China at 681,241 lbs and Germany at 484,287 lbs.

Sheet, strip, plate, and foil product imports totaled 15.2mn lbs, while exports were 6.6mn lbs.

Imports of all profiles, rods, and bars totaled 7.9mn lbs, while exports were 6.7mn lbs.

Copper alloy wire imports totaled 2.8mn lbs, while exports were 1.4mn lbs.