U.S. Overall Scrap Exports Plummeted in 2020

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The overall scrap exports from the U.S. recorded notable decline by 10% in 2020, compared with the previous year. This is based on the most recently published U.S. trade data. The overall scrap exports from the country totalled 29.2 million tonnes until October this year.

The commodity that recorded worst decline was stainless steel scrap, whose exports were down by 28.7% over the previous year. The exports of recovered paper and fiber witnessed year-on-year decline by 16.3%. The copper and copper alloy exports dropped by 16.3%, whereas plastic scrap exports were down by 8.2%. Aluminum scrap exports fell by nearly 52%.

On the other hand, the only major commodity to register surge in export volumes was ferrous scrap exports. The ferrous scrap exports excluding stainless and alloy steel scrap edged higher by 1% to 13.3 million tonnes.

According to Census Bureau data, the shipments to Turkey recorded significant gains, rising higher by 15.5% to over 3.5 million tonnes until October this year. The other foreign markets that recorded surge in scrap imports from the U.S. were Pakistan, Bangladesh and Thailand. The imports by Pakistan were up sharply by 55.4%. Meantime, the total value of U.S. scrap exports to China was down by 13% over the previous year to $1.46 billion.

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