US brass mill product imports fell in September compared with a year ago, while exports increased, according to data the Copper & Brass Fabricators Council released Tuesday.
US brass mill products imports in September slid 15% to 32.3 million lb from 37.8 million lb in September 2015. Exports rose 8.4% to 20.5 million lb in September from 18.9 million lb in September 2015, the Washington-based trade group said.
From January through September, US brass mill imports totaled 346.1 million lb, down 9.1% from 380.9 million lb the same period a year ago. Exports during that same nine-month period fell 4% to 181.1 million lb from 188.5 million lb in the same period of 2015.
Mexico was the leading destination for US brass mill exports in September at nearly 8.3 million lb, followed by Canada at about 5.3 million lb, Peru at 1.3 million lb, China at 894,735 lb and Germany at 515,788 lb.
Brass mill imports from Germany in September totaled 8.6 million lb, followed by Mexico at nearly 3.8 million lb, Canada at 3.6 million lb, South Korea at 2.5 million lb, and Vietnam at 2.2 million lb.
Imports of all sheet, strip, plate and foil products totaled nearly 12.1 million lb in September, while exports of those products totaled 9.7 million lb. September imports of all pipe and tube products totaled 11.7 million lb, while pipe and tube exports totaled about 3.4 million lb.
Imports of all profiles, rods and bars in September totaled 5.7 million lb, while exports totaled nearly 6 million lb.
September imports of copper alloy wire totaled 2.8 million lb, while exports totaled 1.4 million lb.
Brass mill products are widely used in building construction, automotive products and in electronic and electrical applications.
