WASHINGTON: US imports and exports of brass mill products declined in March compared with the corresponding 2014 period, according to data released by the Copper & Brass Fabricators Council.
Imports of brass mill products in March totaled 48.1 million lb compared with 50.7 million lb in March 2014, a decrease of 5.2%, the Washington, DC trade group said in a report.
Exports totaled 22.7 million lb in March, down from 23.1 million lb in March 2014, a 1.7% decrease.
Year to date through March, US imports of brass mill products totaled 122.3 million lb compared with 128.6 million lb in the previous-year period, a decrease of 5%.
Year-to-date exports through March totaled 63.8 million lb, compared with 63.1 million lb in the same 2014 period, an increase of 1%, according to the CBFC.
Mexico was the leading destination for US exports of brass mill products in March at 8.9 million lb, followed by Canada at 5.6 million lb, Saudi Arabia at 1.0 million lb, China at 892,451 lb, and Hong Kong at 782,675 lb.
March imports from Germany totaled 10.9 million lb, followed by South Korea at 7.7 million lb, Mexico at 5.1 million lb, Canada at 4.9 million lb, and Peru at 2.9 million lb, the CBFC said.
Imports of all sheet, strip, plate and foil products totaled 15.7 million lb in March, while exports of those products totaled 8.9 million lb.
March imports of all pipe and tube products totaled 16.1 million lb, while pipe and tube exports totaled 4.8 million lb.
Imports of all profiles, rods and bars totaled 11.8 million lb in March, while exports totaled 6.8 million lb.
March imports of copper alloy wire totaled 4.4 million lb, while exports totaled 2.1 million lb, the CBFC said.
Brass mill products are widely used in building construction, automotive products and in electronic and electrical applications.