U.S. Copper Waste and Scrap Exports Till May Soared 30%

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The latest monthly trade statistics published by the US Census Bureau indicates that the exports of copper waste and scrap by the U.S. surged higher by 29.49% through May this year. The exports during this period touched $1.39 billion. Meantime, the imports too recorded 12.54% year-over-year jump during the first five months of 2018.

The main destination of copper waste and scrap exports from the US was China. The country imported nearly 54% of the total scrap exported by the U.S. The exports to China totaled $750.35 million, higher by almost 17% when matched with the previous year.

The U.S. exported $149.98 million worth of copper waste and scrap to Canada during Jan-May ‘18. The country accounted for nearly 11% share of total US exports. The exports to Canada witnessed 18% jump year-on-year. In third place was South Korea with imports from the US amounting to $84.26 million. The country registered over 85% jump in import volumes over the previous year. The other key importers were Germany ($74.45 million) and Japan ($55.04 million).

The combined imports by the above five foreign markets totaled $1.11 billion out of $1.39 billion, accounting for more than 80% of all exports by the US during the opening five months in 2018.

The imports of copper waste and scrap registered notable jump during the first five months of the current year. The imports were up by 12.54% to total $347.35 million during this period. The imports were valued at $308.65 million during the corresponding five-month period last year.

The top supplier of copper waste and scrap to the US was Canada. The imports from Canada totaled $229.27 million. In second and third place was Mexico and Venezuela with supplies of $82.91 million and $7.83 million respectively. Panama ($4.92 million) and Colombia ($2.79 million) were the other primary exporters of copper waste and scrap to the US. The supplies from the above five countries totaled nearly 95% of the total U.S imports during the first five months of 2018.