US: Lead imports up by 6% and exports stable y-o-y in CY'22

US' imports of lead were recorded at 651,867 tonnes (t) in Calendar Year 2022 (CY'22) against 617,384 t in CY'21, an increase by 6%. The export volumes of the US stood at 358,071 t in CY'22, largely stable from 359,348 t in CY'21.

US' import overview

The m-o-m import volume of lead to the US was 67,211 t in December 2022 from 30,087 t in November 2022.

Semi-finished products were the only commodities shipped to the US, up by 6% to 651,866 t from 617,385 t in CY'22.

The import volumes of copper in December 2022 were 98,493 t from 137,399 t in December 2021, down by 28% y-o-y.

Country-wise imports

• Exports from Canada in CY'22: Export volumes stood at 174,841 t in CY'22, with a decrease of 11% from 196,073 t in CY'21. Export volumes also plunged by 45% y-o-y from 16,457 t in December 2021.
  
  
• Exports from South Korea and Australia in CY'22: US' import volumes from South Korea and Australia stood at 120,481 t and 106,525 t respectively in CY'22. South Korea and Australia exported significant volumes of lead to the US. This, in turn, impacted the overall rise of the import volumes of the US. Though, these countries were not regular export destinations to the US.
  
  

US' export overview

The m-o-m export volume of lead from the US was 20,260 t in December 2022 from 19,707 t in November 2022.

The exports of lead ores or concentrates were down by 4% to 282,190 t, semi-finished products were up by 20% to 33,082 t and followed by scrap which also increased by 13% to 42,800 t in CY'22.

The country's copper exports inched up by 3% y-o-y to 20,260 t in December 2022 as compared to the previous month.

Country-wise exports

• Imports to Canada in CY'22: The export volume from the US stood at 43,526 t in CY'22, an increase of 4% as against 41,939 t in CY'21. Export volumes were up by 32% from 2,450 t in December 2021.
  
  
• Imports to Mexico in CY'22: US' exports to Mexico were at 34,906 t in CY'22, a marginal fall of 2% from 35,763 t in CY'21. There was a drastic decrease of 70% y-o-y from 4,154 t in December, 2021 as compared to December, 2022.
  
  
• Imports to India in CY'22: Export volumes from the US to India were at 19,788 t, down by 14% in CY'22 as compared to around 23,072 t in CY'21. The y-o-y volume stood at 1,659 t in December 2022, a decline of 14% compared to December 2021.