AISI Reports Import Market Share at 26% in August
09/04/2014 - Based on the U.S. 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 August total 3,554,000 tons*.
This was an 8% decrease from the 3,856,000 permit tons recorded in July and a 7% decrease from the July Preliminary imports total of 3,833,000 tons. Import permit tonnage for finished steel in August was 2,681,000, down 12% from the preliminary imports total of 3,058,000 in July. For the first 8 months of 2014 (including August SIMA and July Preliminary), total and finished steel imports were 28,494,000 tons and 21,316,000 tons, respectively, up 35% and 29% from the same period in 2013. The estimated finished steel import market share in August was 26% and is 27% year-to-date (YTD).
Finished steel imports with large increases in August permits vs. the July Preliminary included reinforcing bars (up 240%), wire rods (up 37%), standard rails (up 31%) and line pipe (up 11%). Products with significant year-to-date (YTD) increases vs. the same period in 2013 include plates in coils (up 81%), wire rods (up 80%), cold rolled sheets (up 72%), cut lengths plates (up 56%), sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 54%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 52%), heavy structural shapes (up 44%), hot rolled sheets (up 37%), mechanical tubing (up 35%), oil country goods (up 25%) and reinforcing bar (up 16%).
In August, the largest finished steel import permit applications for offshore countries were for South Korea (438,000 tons, down 22% from July Preliminary), China (245,000 tons down 9%), Turkey (219,000 tons, up 66%), Japan (209,000 tons, up 5%) and Taiwan (128,000 tons, up 21%). Through the first eight months of 2014, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (3,608,000 tons, up 49% from the same period in 2013), China (2,033,000 tons, up 72%) and Japan (1,398,000, up 9%).
* 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.
Finished steel imports with large increases in August permits vs. the July Preliminary included reinforcing bars (up 240%), wire rods (up 37%), standard rails (up 31%) and line pipe (up 11%). Products with significant year-to-date (YTD) increases vs. the same period in 2013 include plates in coils (up 81%), wire rods (up 80%), cold rolled sheets (up 72%), cut lengths plates (up 56%), sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 54%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 52%), heavy structural shapes (up 44%), hot rolled sheets (up 37%), mechanical tubing (up 35%), oil country goods (up 25%) and reinforcing bar (up 16%).
In August, the largest finished steel import permit applications for offshore countries were for South Korea (438,000 tons, down 22% from July Preliminary), China (245,000 tons down 9%), Turkey (219,000 tons, up 66%), Japan (209,000 tons, up 5%) and Taiwan (128,000 tons, up 21%). Through the first eight months of 2014, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (3,608,000 tons, up 49% from the same period in 2013), China (2,033,000 tons, up 72%) and Japan (1,398,000, up 9%).
* 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.
