The US crude metal and alloys imports down 27% YoY in seven-month period; exports drop by 19%

The US imports of crude metal and alloys declined 72.53% or 240,800 tonnes year-on-year to 91,200 tonnes in July 2019, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from the US Geological Survey. Imports were 332,000 tonnes in July 2018.

Imports reduced by 71.05% from June’s imports of 315,000 and 68.22% from May’s imports of 287,000 tonnes

The US imported 1.9 million tonnes of crude metal and alloys in the first seven months of 2019, as compared to 2.62 million tonnes in the first seven months of 2018. This records a decrease of 27.48% or 720,000 tonnes.

The US imports of total aluminium (crude metal and alloys, aluminium semi-finished products and scrap) in July edged lower by 48.31% year-on-year to 260,000 tonnes. Aluminium imports declined 48% from June and 45.61% from May. Total aluminium imports reduced 17.57% or 680,000 tonnes to 3.19 million tonnes in January-July. The US had imported 3.87 million tonnes of aluminium in January-July 2018.

On the export side, the US exported 18,300 tonnes of crude metal and alloys, down 26.51% from 24,900 tonnes in July 2019, 3.68% from 19,000 tonnes in June, and 12.44% from 20,900 tonnes in May.

Exports of crude metal and alloys came in at 142,000 tonnes in January-July 2019, representing a drop of19.32% year-on-year. The US had exported 176,000 tonnes in January-July 2018.

The US exports of total aluminium including scrap increased 0.41% year-on-year to stand at 245,000 tonnes in July 2019. Exports stood at 1.76 million tonnes in the first seven months of 2019, from 1.77 million tonnes.