US aluminium plates, sheets and bars exports hike 48% in 4Q2022; exports to Canada grow 7.63% to 74,800 tonnes

In December 2022, the United States aluminium plates, sheets and bars exports stood at 55,200 tonnes, down by 13.88 per cent or 8,900 tonnes month-on-month from 64,100 tonnes, according to the US Geological Survey data. However, on a year-on-year calculation, the export volume edged 26.63 per cent or 14,700 tonnes higher than 40,500 tonnes. 

In the fourth quarter of the year, the United States aluminium flat rolled products exports totalled 180,600 tonnes, significantly up by 47.67 per cent from 122,300 tonnes in Q3 2022. That brought the country’s total exports in the second half of the year to 302,900 tonnes.

From January to December 2022, the United States exported 736,000 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and bars versus 626,000 tonnes in 2021.

Canada was the higher consumer of the United States flat rolled products in 2022, sourcing 317,000 tonnes. In comparison with the last year, Canada’s imports from the US stood at 7.09 per cent higher than 296,000 tonnes, showed USGS data.

In December 2022, the US exports to Canada were 21,300 tonnes, down by 22.54 per cent from 27,500 tonnes in November but up by 11.52 per cent from 19,100 tonnes in December 2021.

In Q4, Canada imported 74,800 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and bars from the US versus 69,500 tonnes in Q3 2022. The country's total imports from the US in 2022 amounted to 284,000 tonnes.