US Fe scrap exports down in April on Turkey, Asia

US ferrous scrap exports fell in April on the back of lower volumes to Asia, Turkey and North American neighbors.

Exports fell to 1.32mn t in April, a 10pc drop compared to the same period a year ago. Year-to-date exports decreased by 14pc at 4.59mn t versus 2018, according to data from the US Commerce Department.

Year-over-year shipments to leading trade partner Turkey slipped by 39pc to 201,173t after reaching a 16-month high in March. Year-to-date exports to Turkey are down by 22pc year over year at 1mn t.

Other top consumers of US scrap, including Taiwan, Mexico, Bangladesh and Canada, also decreased ferrous intake.

Taiwan imported 125,464t in April, a 34pc drop from the prior year. Mexican imports decreased by 51pc to 108,404t, while Bangladesh imports slipped by 65pc to 67,469t.

Ferrous scrap shipped to Canada ticked down by 9pc to 58,239t.

Some other countries saw sharply higher US exports.

US exports to Malaysia reached their highest levels in almost six years at 135,020t, an increase from 12,265t from the year before.

Exports to Vietnam totaled 120,409t versus 78,201t in April a year prior.

Saudi Arabia imported its first bulk cargo totaling 75,122t from the US in 13 months, the most since January 2015.

Shipments to Kuwait totaled 103,284t, a 17-month high and an increase from 46,350t a year ago.

South Korean-bound exports rose to 95,597t from 10,449t year over year.

East coast ports exported 574,867t, an 8pc decrease on the year on a 37pc drop in exports to Turkey.

West coast ports shipped 522,848t, down by 17pc from the previous April on fewer loads to Thailand and Bangladesh.

Gulf coast exports climbed by 14pc to 144,948t after increased shipments to Peru and Pakistan offset lower volumes to Mexico.

US ferrous scrap exports t