Beam final imports to the U.S. were down 4.3% year to date (YTD), year on year (y/y), totaling 501,057 tons for the eleven months ending November 2017. For the month of November, Beam imports totaled 16,416 tons down 64.0% from the YTD average of 45,551 tons. Wide flange beams accounted for 66.2% of total beam imports, while standard beams accounted for 33.7%.

Figure 1 charts the largest exporting countries in rank order on a YTD basis through November for both 2016 and 2017. Korea was the largest exporter at 144,473 tons to the U.S. YTD, up 1.2% y/y. For the month of November, Korea’s volume was 3,490 tons, 73.4% lower than its YTD average of 13,134 tons. Luxembourg sent 125,140 tons YTD, up 23.4% y/y. For the month of November, Luxembourg’s volume was 4,679 tons 58.9% lower than its YTD average of 11,376 tons. Spain ranked third YTD with 90,738 tons, down 12.8% y/y. For the month of November, Spain’s’ beam exports were 1,003 tons, 87.8% below its YTD average of 8,249 tons. The three country total of Korea, Luxembourg and Spain accounts for 71.9%, (360,351 tons) of YTD U.S. beam imports.

The United Kingdom exported 34,054 tons, surging 65.1% over its YTD 2016 tonnage. Volume in November was 1,964 tons, 36.6% less than its YTD average of 3,096 tons. Mexico, sent 25,135 tons of beams to the U.S. YTD, down 24.0% y/y. In November, Mexico’s volume was 2,199 tons, 1.6% lower than its 2,294 ton YTD average. Canada was the next largest with 23,272 tons, up 5.8% YTD y/y. Volume for the month of November was 2,757 tons, 30.3% higher than its 2,116 ton YTD average. The UAE sent 18,985 tons of beams to the U.S. up 26.7% 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 UAEs November volume was 91 tons, well off its YTD average of 1,726 tons. Taiwan shipped 14,899 tons thus far in 2017, down 17.0% YTD y/y. Taiwan exported 36 tons of beams in November, vs. a YTD average was 1,345 tons.

Germany exported 13,944 tons through November, down 27.8% YTD y/y. November volume of 89 tons, was 93.0% less than its YTD average tonnage of 1,268 tons. China sent 7,201 tons YTD, up 264% y/y. November beam exports from China surged to 3,035 tons in October after a 2,269 ton shipment in September. November’s export volume was just 7 tons, compared to a YTD average of 655 tons. Brazil rounded out the top ten beam exporters with exported 2,289 tons of beams to the U.S. YTD up 129% y/y. Brazil sent 52 tons in November after a three month hiatus. Its YTD average tonnage through November was 208.

Nine other countries exported a combined total of 1,224 tons, of beams to the U.S. market YTD 2017. This is substantially lower than the 44,361 tons exported from the same country’s YTD 2016. In 2016 YTD, Russia shipped 34,711 tons of beams to the U.S., while Japan shipped 5,257 tons. Thus far in 2017 Russia shipped 269 tons, while Japan shipped 436 tons.

Houston-Galveston was the largest receiving port, offloading 103,028 tons YTD, off 0.1% YTD y/y. November’s volume was just 158 tons. Los Angeles held the number two spot with 96,789 tons, down 4.1% YTD y/y. Volume for November came-in only 44 tons. Boston ranked third with 44,950 tons up 3.6% YTD y/y. November volume was 1,901 tons. Philadelphia was the next largest port bringing in 36,004 tons YTD, an increase of 6.1% y/y. Philadelphia’s November exports totaled 3,060 tons. Mobile received 26,673 tons, down 41.8% YTD y/y. November tons were 540.

Detroit took in 24,284 tons YTD, a 1.4% y/y increase. Detroit offloaded 2,814 tons in November. San Francisco landed 19,591 tons of U.S. Beams, a 29.6% YTD y/y increase. November beam exports to San Francisco fell to zero. Laredo TX landed 17,679 tons, tumbling 25.7 % YTD y/y. November volume was 2,077 tons. Chicago offloaded 16,918 tons, down 0.8% YTD y/y. New Orleans, took-in 15,256 tons, a 168% YTD y/y increase. Columbia-Snake OR had just three months of receipts YTD, in March, May and August totaling 14,087 tons, off 38.4% y/y. Duluth unloaded 13,435 tons, up 10.4% YTD y/y.

Twenty additional ports combined to receive 72,364 tons of beam imports thus far in 2017, 14.4% of the total volume YTD. Beams imports YTD 2016 from the same 20 country’s was 70,355, 13.4% of YTD 2016 volume.

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