U.S. imports of brass mill products increased in March, while exports declined, reports the Washington-based Copper and Brass Fabricators Council. Imports of brass mill products totaled 42.8 million pounds for the month, a 7 percent increase over March 2017. Exports decreased 9.3 percent year over year to 22.6 million pounds.
For the year to date, U.S. imports of brass mill products increased 4 percent to 118 million pounds, while total exports through March declined 3.5 percent to 63.3 million pounds.
Mexico was the leading destination for U.S. exports of brass mill products in March at 8 million pounds, followed by Canada at 6.2 million pounds, China at 1.1 million pounds, Saudi Arabia at 1 million pounds and South Korea at 845,213 pounds.
Imports from Germany totaled 9.6 million pounds, followed by Vietnam at 5.1 million pounds, Mexico at 4.7 million pounds, South Korea at 4.3 million pounds and Canada at 3 million pounds.
March imports of all sheet, strip, plate and foil products totaled 15.6 million pounds, while exports of those products totaled 9.2 million pounds. Imports of all pipe and tube products totaled 14.8 million pounds, while pipe and tube exports totaled 5.5 million pounds. Imports of all profiles, rods and bars totaled 9 million pounds, while exports totaled 6 million pounds.
Russia's Rusal has signed a letter of intent to invest up to $200 million at Braidy Industries' new aluminum rolling facility in Kentucky. The deal calls for a 10-year supply agreement from Rusal to the new facility.