AISI: Preliminary Steel Imports Decrease 10% in June; Import Market Share at 27%
07/28/2015 - Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 3,049,000 net tons (NT) of steel in June 2015, including 2,458,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 10.3% and 10.7%, respectively, vs. May final data).
Year-to-date (YTD) total and finished steel imports are 21,670,000 and 17,833,000 net tons (NT), respectively, up 3% and 14% respectively, vs. the same period in 2014. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2015 would be 43.3 and 35.7 million NT, down 2% and up 6% respectively vs. 2014. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 27% in June and is estimated at 32% YTD.
Key finished steel products with a significant import increase in June compared to May are heavy structural shapes (up 32%) and wire rods (up 11%). Major products with significant YTD import increases vs. the same period last year include line pipe (up 66%), standard pipe (up 39%), reinforcing bars (up 36%), plates in coils (up 27%), heavy structural shapes (up 26%), tin plate (up 24%), sheets and strip galvanized hot dipped (up 22%), cut lengths plates (up 20%) and cold rolled sheets (up 16%).
In June, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (311,000 NT, down 13% vs. May final), China (190,000 NT, down 37%), Japan (181,000 NT, down 3%), Germany (147,000 NT, up 12%) and Turkey (142,000 NT, down 36%). For six months of 2015, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (3,056,000 NT, up 17%), Turkey (1,589,000 NT, up 65%), China (1,521,000 NT, no change), Japan (1,229,000 NT, up 24%) and Germany (821,000 NT, up 41%).
For charts and additional information on June's import report, click here.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 19 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 125 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org.
Key finished steel products with a significant import increase in June compared to May are heavy structural shapes (up 32%) and wire rods (up 11%). Major products with significant YTD import increases vs. the same period last year include line pipe (up 66%), standard pipe (up 39%), reinforcing bars (up 36%), plates in coils (up 27%), heavy structural shapes (up 26%), tin plate (up 24%), sheets and strip galvanized hot dipped (up 22%), cut lengths plates (up 20%) and cold rolled sheets (up 16%).
In June, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (311,000 NT, down 13% vs. May final), China (190,000 NT, down 37%), Japan (181,000 NT, down 3%), Germany (147,000 NT, up 12%) and Turkey (142,000 NT, down 36%). For six months of 2015, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (3,056,000 NT, up 17%), Turkey (1,589,000 NT, up 65%), China (1,521,000 NT, no change), Japan (1,229,000 NT, up 24%) and Germany (821,000 NT, up 41%).
For charts and additional information on June's import report, click here.
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 19 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 125 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org.
