Steel exports from Latin America to the US increased 4.82% year-on-year to 651,873t in December, according to figures from the US Census Bureau.

By value, exports from the region rose 18.5% to US$518mn. By volume, Brazil was the region's biggest exporter of steel to the US, at 390,479t, up from 346,889t; followed by Mexico's 245,339t, up from 239,262t.

Mexico was the region's biggest exporter by value at US$251mn, up from US$207mn; followed by Brazil's US$242mn, up from US$189mn. Argentina exported 12,398t steel worth US$21.5mn, down from 18,270t and US$28.9mn.

The higher Latin American exports reflect global trends, with world steel exports to the US in the month at 3.28Mt worth US$3.237bn, up from 2.27Mt and US$2.186bn.

By volume, Brazil was the second biggest steel exporter to the US behind Canada, with Mexico fifth behind South Korea and Russia. By value, Mexico was third biggest behind Canada and South Korea, with Brazil fourth.