SÃO PAULO — Brazilian merchant pig iron exports fell 61 percent year on year in February, largely due to lower shipments to the United States.

Exports totaled 128,780 tonnes last month, down from 333,132 tonnes in February 2012, according to figures from Brazil’s foreign trade ministry.

Of that total, 72,950 tonnes were shipped to the United States, down from 226,402 tonnes in February last year, the figures show.

Taiwan came second in the list of purchasers, receiving 48,985 tonnes in February, up from 27,155 tonnes in the same month last year.

Producers from Minas Gerais state in southeast Brazil exported the highest tonnage in February, shipping 96,404 tonnes.

Maranhão and Pará states in the country’s northern region exported only 26,521 tonnes and 5,305 tonnes, respectively, down from 94,719 tonnes and 105,997 tonnes the same month last year.

A version of this article was first published by AMM sister publication Steel First.