US Fe scrap, pig iron imports fall in September

US imports of HBI/DRI fell by more than a quarter in September from a year earlier, leading total declines of metalics and ferrous scrap intake.

Combined imports of ferrous scrap and metallics dropped by 7pc to 907,000t compared to September 2018, according to data from the US Commerce Department.

Year-to-date combined imports slipped by 6pc to 8.2mn t.

Scrap

Ferrous scrap volumes decreased by 11pc to 305,000t in September from the same time a year ago.

The first shipment from the UK since January consisted of 44,000t of No 1 bundles delivered to New Orleans.

The Netherlands provided the other significant portion of deep-sea imports, with 27,000t of No. 1 bundles shipped to Charleston, South Carolina.

The US imported 204,000t from Canada, while shipments from Mexico totaled 25,000t.

Year-to-date scrap imports volumes went down by 7pc to 2.99mn t.

Metallics

Total metallics volumes were down by 4pc to 604,000t in September from a year earlier, with DRI/HBI volumes with the sharpest drop.

Pig iron imports dropped by 12pc to 445,000t in September from a year ago.

Russia-sourced tonnages accounted for 44pc at 197,000t, but fell by 34pc from September 2018.

Shipments from Ukraine measured 74,000t, a 39pc decrease from a year earlier. Brazil imports reached the highest levels since December 2018, rising to 166,000t from 77,000t.

Year-to-date pig iron import volumes slipped by 5pc to 4.11mn t.

Imports of DRI/HBI increased by 28pc from the prior year in September to 158,000t, with Trinidad and Tobago accounting for all of the volume. US steelmaker Nucor operates a DRI plant in Trinidad.

Year-to-date DRI/HBI imports are down by 2pc year over year to 1.3mn t.