US pig iron imports drop as scrap, DRI rise in Feb

US southeast imports of pig iron in February fell to a more than a two-year low, while offshore volumes of ferrous scrap and jumped from the same time a year ago.

Combined imports of scrap and metallics to southeast ports dropped by 7pc to 459,630t in February from the prior year period, according to the latest data from the US Commerce Department. Year-to-date combined imports increased to 1.4mn t, up from 9pc compared to 2018.

Scrap

Southeast ports imported 63,869t of ferrous scrap during February, up from 26,551t the previous year.

February shipments included bundles and shredded scrap from the Netherlands to Charleston, plus a shredded bulk cargo from Sweden to New Orleans.

Year-to-date tonnages rose by 133pc to 216,713t against 93,117t in the same two months in 2018.

Metallics

Pig iron imports in February fell to their lowest since January 2017, totaling 253,261t and down by 37pc from the prior year.

Russian and Ukrainian volumes fell for the month while Brazilian imports rose.

Russian imports accounted for 48pc of total pig iron volumes at 122,112t, a 49pc decrease from the 239,847t delivered in 2018.

Ukraine shipped 71,499t during the month, dropping by 54pc from the 156,709t brought in during the previous year.

Brazil shipped 59,650t, up from zero in the same period a year ago.

Imports to Mobile, Alabama, dropped by 30pc to 110,050t from 156,709t. New Orleans received 143,211t of pig iron, 22pc fewer tons than the 182,880t delivered in February 2018.

Charleston imported zero tons in the month, versus 62,655t in the same time a year ago.

Year-to-date pig iron imports for February 2019 totaled 865,201t, down by 3pc from January-February 2018.

DRI/HBI imports ticked up by more than doubled in February to 142,500t from 66,154t in the prior year period. Trinidad and Tobago provided all DRI shipments to the US, with 105,040t and 37,460t delivered to Charleston and Mobile, respectively.

Year to date DRI/HBI imports edged up by 4pc to 320,635t from the same period in 2018.

Combined pig iron, DRI and HBI imports fell by 16pc during February, dropping to 395,761t from 468,398t in 2018.

US southeast ferrous, metallics imports ’000t