Based on the Commerce Department’s most recent Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that steel import permit applications for the month of January 2014 total 3,080,000 tons*. This was a 19% increase from the 2,582,000 permit tons recorded in December 2013 and 23% increase from the December preliminary imports total of 2,502,000 tons. Import permit tonnage for finished steel in January was 2,414,000, up 28% from the preliminary imports total of 1,884,000 in December. The estimated finished steel import market share in January was 26%.
 
Finished steel imports with large increases in January permits vs. the December preliminary included reinforcing bars (up 165%), wire rods (up 151%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 115%), plates in coils (up 57%), oil country goods (up 36%), sheet and strip galvanized hot dipped (up 30%) and hot rolled sheets (up 28%).
 
In January, the largest finished steel import permit applications for offshore countries were for South Korea (387,000 tons, up 29% from December preliminary), China (199,000 tons up 39%), Japan (179,000 tons, up 22%), Turkey (172,000 tons, up 280%) and The Netherlands (99,000 tons, up 63%).
 
* Monthly permit numbers provided to date may be understated, as entry documentation with the required import license number may be submitted up to ten days after imports have entered U.S. commerce.