US exports of merchant bar (light-shaped bar) saw a notable decline in August 2025, continuing trends of volatility in North American steel trade. According to export data from the US Department of Commerce, total shipments of merchant bar in August reached 4,279 metric tons, marking a **16.3 % drop compared with July 2025 and a 10.5 % decrease year-on-year compared with August 2024.
By value, exports also declined to $5.14 million in August from $5.99 million in July 2025, while remaining slightly below the $5.49 million recorded in August 2024.
In terms of market destinations, Mexico remained the top recipient, with 2,940 mt shipped in August versus 1,794 mt in July, followed by Canada with 1,061 mt. There were no other major destinations (defined as 1,000 mt or more) for US merchant bar exports in August.
This export downturn may reflect broader headwinds for US long steel products amid softening global demand, trade barriers, and competitive pricing pressures, even as some other steel categories such as cold finished bar exports experienced growth in the same period.
VietnamSteel by Hoa Sen Group
