AISI: U.S. Import Market Share at 22% in November
12/05/2013 - 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 November total 2,541,000 tons*.
For the first 11 months of 2013 (including November SIMA and October preliminary), total and finished steel imports were 29,550,000 tons and 22,954,000 tons, respectively, each down 5% from the same period in 2012. The estimated finished steel import market share in November was 22% and is 23% year-to-date (YTD).
Finished steel imports with large increases in November permits vs. the October preliminary included standard rails (up 238%), light shapes bars (up 111%) and line pipe (up 27%). Products with significant year-to-date (YTD) increases vs. the same period in 2012 include reinforcing bars (up 21%), heavy structural shapes (up 20%), standard rails (up 16%), hot rolled bars (up 14%) and sheet and strip all other metallic coatings (up 12%).
In November, the largest finished steel import permit applications for offshore countries were for South Korea (317,000 tons, down 14% from October preliminary), Japan (161,000 tons up 28%), China (157,000 tons, down 27%), Germany (105,000 tons, no change) and The Netherlands (67,000 tons, down 18%). Through the first eleven months of 2013, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (3,459,000 tons, down 1% from the same period in 2012), Japan (1,768,000 tons, down 4%) and China (1,750,000 tons, up 18%).
* 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 November permits vs. the October preliminary included standard rails (up 238%), light shapes bars (up 111%) and line pipe (up 27%). Products with significant year-to-date (YTD) increases vs. the same period in 2012 include reinforcing bars (up 21%), heavy structural shapes (up 20%), standard rails (up 16%), hot rolled bars (up 14%) and sheet and strip all other metallic coatings (up 12%).
In November, the largest finished steel import permit applications for offshore countries were for South Korea (317,000 tons, down 14% from October preliminary), Japan (161,000 tons up 28%), China (157,000 tons, down 27%), Germany (105,000 tons, no change) and The Netherlands (67,000 tons, down 18%). Through the first eleven months of 2013, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (3,459,000 tons, down 1% from the same period in 2012), Japan (1,768,000 tons, down 4%) and China (1,750,000 tons, up 18%).
* 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.
