Surge in Bulk Alloy Imports to the U.S.
Bulk alloy shipments to U.S. surged in the second quarter, driven by weakening Chinese demand and increasing domestic regulatory pressures. According to the latest data from the U.S. Commerce Department, consolidated bulk alloy shipments—comprising high carbon ferro-chrome, silico-manganese, ferro-silicon, and high carbon ferro-manganese—rose by 47% to 345,970 metric tonnes compared to the same period last year.
Ferro-Chrome Imports Show Significant Growth
The volume of ferro-chrome with over 4% carbon content saw a significant increase, contributing to the surge in bulk alloy shipments to U.S., with South African exports rising fivefold to 100,520 tonnes.
Silico-Manganese Imports Increase
Silico-manganese imports grew across the board, with South Africa leading the way at 25,868 tonnes, followed by Australia with 22,015 tonnes, and Georgia with 17,673 tonnes. In May and June, a federal probe and the possibility of retroactive tariffs sparked a rush in ferro-silicon imports, with shipments from Brazil and Malaysia more than doubling to 14,142 tonnes and 13,658 tonnes, respectively.
High Carbon Ferro-Manganese Shipments
Meanwhile, increased shipments of high carbon ferro-manganese from Australia and South Africa helped stabilize overall supply, partially offsetting a sharp 52% decline in Malaysian exports, which fell to 15,645 tonnes. Market analysts suggest that production constraints and shifting trade policies in Malaysia contributed to the decrease, while strong demand from U.S. buyers fueled increased exports from Australia and South Africa.
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