Latin America exported 804,170t of steel to the US in June, a 57.5% increase from 510,507t in the same month last year, according to preliminary data from the US Census Bureau.

The biggest increase was in exports from Brazil, which rose 151% to 413,508t from 165,001t; followed by Mexico, whose exports grew 13.3% to 368,899t from 325,594t.

Argentina exported 17,871t steel, up from 14,989t, while Colombia shipped 2,655t, up from 1,313t.

Exports from the region rose compared to 700,039t in May.

By value, the region's steel exports to the US gained 54.3% to US$587m in June from US$381mn.

Mexico was the region's biggest exporter by value at US$315mn, followed by Brazil at US$238mn.

Globally, Brazil was the world's third biggest exporter of steel to the US by volume behind Canada and South Korea and ahead of Mexico, which was fourth.

By value, Mexico was third behind Canada and South Korea, and ahead of fourth-place Brazil.

World steel exports to the US totaled 3.25Mt in June, up from 2.23Mt in the same month last year and down from 3.64Mt in May.

By value, total exports were worth US$3.13bn, up from US$2.29bn in the same month last year and down from US$3.38bn in May.