Beam final imports to the U.S. were up 3.6% year to date (YTD), year on year (y/y), totaling 445,284 tons for the nine months ending September 2017. For the month of September, Beam imports totaled 41,847 tons down 15.5% from the YTD average of 49,539.

Figure 1 charts the largest exporting countries in rank order on a YTD basis through September for both 2016 and 2017. Korea was the largest exporter at 125,825 tons to the U.S. YTD, up 12.2% y/y. For the month of September, Korea’s volume was 18,587 tons, 33.0% higher than its YTD average of 13,980 tons. Luxembourg sent 117,210 tons YTD, up 37.1% y/y. For the month of September, Luxembourg’s volume was 12,846 tons 1.4% lower than its YTD average of 13,023 tons. Spain ranked third YTD with 81,411 tons, up 1.2% y/y. For the month of September, Spain’s’ beam exports were 4,898, 45.9% below its YTD average of 9,046 tons.

The three country total of Korea, Luxembourg and Spain accounts for 73%, (324,446 tons) of YTD U.S. beam imports.

The United Kingdom exported 31,203 tons, surging 86% over its YTD 2016 tonnage. Volume in September was only 156 tons, and August volume was 180 tons. The UKs YTD average monthly intake was 3,467 tons.

Mexico, sent 19,683 tons of beams to the U.S. YTD, down 36.8% y/y. In September, Mexico’s volume was 988 tons, 54.8% lower than its 2,187 YTD ton average. Canada was the next largest with 18,194 tons, up 8.8% YTD y/y. Volume for the month of September was 1,687 tons, 16.5% lower than its 2,022 YTD average.

The UAE sent 16,102 tons of beams to the U.S. up 7.4% YTD y/y. Shipment volumes have been very erratic ranging from zero tons shipped in February and April and July to 6,252 tons in January. The UAE was back did not ship any merchant tons to the U.S. in September. Taiwan shipped 14,863 tons thus far in 2017, up 2.2% YTD y/y. For the month of September Taiwan exported only 13 tons, well-off its 1,651 YTD average. Germany exported 13,549 tons through September, down 22.2% YTD y/y. September volume of 326 tons, was 78.3% less than its YTD average tonnage of 1,505 tons.

China sent 4,159 tons YTD, up 180% y/y. September merchant exports from China surged to 2,269 tons, ten times is YTD average of 236 tons. Brazil rounded out the top ten beam exporters with exported 2,236 tons of beams to the U.S. YTD up 124% y/y. Brazil did not send any tons in either August or September. Its YTD average tonnage through September was 248. Brazil has only sent beams in three of the nine months thus far in 2017.

Eight other countries exported a combined total of 851 tons, of beams to the US market YTD 2017. This is substantially lower than the 38,558 tons exported from the same country’s YTD 2016. In 2016 YTD, Russia shipped 29,208 tons of beams to the U.S., while Japan shipped 5,077 tons. Thus far in 2017 Russia shipped 211 tons, while Japan shipped 401 tons.

Houston-Galveston was the largest receiving port, offloading 94,530 tons YTD, up 25.0% YTD y/y. Los Angeles held the number two spot with 86,177 tons, up 0.3% YTD y/y. Boston ranked third with 42,400 tons up 23.4% YTD y/y. Philadelphia was the next largest port bringing in 32,282 tons YTD, an increase of 6.4% y/y. Mobile received 23,018 tons, down 42.7% YTD y/y. Detroit took in 18,596 tons YTD, a 8.9% y/y increase. Chicago offloaded 16,807 tons, up 24.9%, YTD y/y.

San Francisco landed 15,611 tons of U.S. Beams, a 22.7% YTD y/y increase. New Orleans, took-in 14,238 tons, a 216% YTD y/y increase. New Orleans did not receive any merchants in September. Columbia-Snake OR had just three months of receipts YTD, in March, May and August totaling 14,087 tons, off 25.3% y/y. Duluth unloaded 12,530 tons, spiking 63.4% YTD y/y. Laredo TX was next with 12,496 tons, tumbling 43.4 % YTD y/y. Tampa offloaded 8,330 tons through September, 25.8% lower than in the first eight months of 2016. Tampa received merchant tons in four of the nine months YTD including 1,957 tons in September. Seattle took-in 7,736 tons YTD, a 13.4% y/y increase.

Eighteen additional ports combined to receive 46,448 tons of beam imports thus far in 2017, 10.4% of the total volume YTD. Beams imports YTD2016 from the same 18 country’s was 48,231, 11.2% of YTD 2016 volume.

At Gerdau we closely follow trade in long products steel since it has a profound impact on domestic market share and material pricing. We want you, our valued customers to have access to current information that can help you better plan and operate your businesses.