AIIS: Imports Inch Up in July as Market Remains Weak Compared to 2012
08/27/2013 - U.S. steel imports increased in July compared to June by 0.6% according to preliminary data released by the government and analyzed by the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS).
“Steel imports in July inched up by less than 1% as shipments from some non-NAFTA sources strengthened while NAFTA imports dropped, especially from Mexico. While the month to month improvement in arrivals for the month might be the beginning of a small upward trend in the market, imports remain substantially weaker than in 2012,” said David Phelps, president of AIIS.
Steel imports in the first seven months of 2013 compared to the same 2012 period were down by 10.8%. “While currently in a rebound for some products, demand in most steel markets has not returned even to 2012 levels for either the domestic industry or importers. Imports might show some improvement later this year in response to improved pricing this summer, but we do not see underlying demand strengthening sufficiently enough to improve conditions for domestic or import suppliers to the market at this time,” concluded Phelps.
Total steel imports in July 2013 were 2.474 million tons compared to 2.460 million tons in June 2013, a 0.6% increase, and a 10.9% decrease compared to July 2012. For the year-to-date period, imports decreased from 20.409 million tons in the seven months of 2012 to 18.206 million tons in the same 2013 period, a 10.8% decrease.
The data show that imported semi-finished products decreased by 6.7% in July 2013 compared to July 2012, from 556,000 tons in 2012 to 519,000 tons in 2013, based on preliminary reporting. For the year- to - date period, imported semi-finished products decreased from 4.582 million tons in the first seven months of 2012 to 3.882 million tons in the same 2013 period, a 15.3% decrease.
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