The weakened dollar has allowed U.S. steel mills to boost shipments to overseas buyers of pipe and tube and structural products—primarily to end users and distributors in Canada and Mexico.

Domestic steel mills exported 92,075 net tons carbon and alloy pipe and tube products in January, an 11% increase over the December 2007 volume's figure of 82,700 net tons and an increase of just about 152% on January 2007 exports of 36,478 tons.

Commerce Department data also shows that line pipe exports of 31,786 tons, and structural pipe and tube exports of 16,206 tons, both were 13% above December levels.

Exports of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) for energy applications were 25,995 tons, about the same as the previous month. Mechanical tubing exports rose to 4,458 tons in January from 2,710 tons the previous month. Exports of standard pipe increased to 13,630 tons from 11,580 tons in December.

The Commerce data also shows that exports of heavy structural shapes, including wide-flange beams, increased more than 32% in January to 93,720 tons, up from 70,810 tons in December. Also, rebar exports went up by more than 54% in January at to 38,890 tons from 25,230 tons.