AISI: Preliminary U.S. Steel Imports Decrease 4% in September
10/31/2013 - Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,761,000 tons of steel in September, including 2,117,000 tons of finished steel (each down 4.1% vs. August final data).
Year-to-date (YTD) total and finished steel imports are 23,892,000 and 18,694,000 net tons (tons), respectively, down 7% and 6% vs. 2012. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2013 would be 31.9 and 24.9 million tons, down 5% and 4% respectively vs. 2012. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 23% in September and is estimated at 23% YTD.
Key finished steel products with a significant import increase in September 2013 compared to August are cut lengths plates (up 60%), hot rolled bars (up 47%), tin plate (up 35%) and plates in coils (up 16%). Major products with significant YTD import increases vs. the same period last year include reinforcing bars (up 22%) and hot rolled bars (up 12%).
In September, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were all from Asia and Europe. They were from South Korea (317,000 tons, down 15% vs. August final), China (194,000 tons, up 77%), Japan (191,000 tons, up 4%), Turkey (115,000 tons, up 24%) and The Netherlands (108,000 tons, up 38%). For nine months of 2013, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (2,752,000 tons, down 2%), Japan (1,481,000 tons, down 3%), China (1,378,000 tons, up 16%), Turkey (1,006,000 tons, down 10%) and Germany (806,000 tons, down 14%).
Key finished steel products with a significant import increase in September 2013 compared to August are cut lengths plates (up 60%), hot rolled bars (up 47%), tin plate (up 35%) and plates in coils (up 16%). Major products with significant YTD import increases vs. the same period last year include reinforcing bars (up 22%) and hot rolled bars (up 12%).
In September, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were all from Asia and Europe. They were from South Korea (317,000 tons, down 15% vs. August final), China (194,000 tons, up 77%), Japan (191,000 tons, up 4%), Turkey (115,000 tons, up 24%) and The Netherlands (108,000 tons, up 38%). For nine months of 2013, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (2,752,000 tons, down 2%), Japan (1,481,000 tons, down 3%), China (1,378,000 tons, up 16%), Turkey (1,006,000 tons, down 10%) and Germany (806,000 tons, down 14%).
