Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported August imports of steel into the United States were the highest import levels since August 2000 — 8.6% higher than in July for total steel imports and 5.7% higher than July for finished steel imports. Year-to-date (YTD) imports in both categories are up over 41% compared to the same period last year.

Several product categories showed large import increases in August compared to July, including

• Sheet & strip – all other metallic coated, +87%
• Standard pipe, +43%
• Semi-finished steel, imported in significant quantity by converters, +24%
• Plates in coil, +21%
• Cold rolled sheets, +18%
• Concrete reinforcing bars & rods, +17%
• Tin plate, +15%
• Bars–light shapes, +14%

“The sharp increase in imports supports the need to continue import monitoring and enhance the existing system,” stated David S. Sutherland, Ipsco President and CEO, and Chairman of AISI. Through seven months of 2004 compared to the same period last year, finished steel imports are up 34%. This is more than double the 16% gain in steel consumption. As a result, steel import penetration in the United States in this period has increased from 16.6 to 19.2%.

Sutherland suggested that, “Access to timely and accurate information is especially important at the present time. What we are seeing today are record levels of global steel production, volatile changes in world steel markets and massive new steel capacity increases offshore.”

Andrew G. Sharkey III, AISI President and CEO, thanked those who provided comments to the Department of Commerce last week in support of extending and enhancing the Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system. “The Commerce Department request for comments on the SIMA system resulted in a show of overwhelming support for continuing and strengthening the current program. We wish to thank the government officials, steel industry suppliers and customers, Nafta partner industries and all those who submitted supportive statements. This support included a bipartisan House letter signed by 72 Members and 12 Senate letters signed by 14 Senators. We appreciate this support and continue to urge Congress to enact this program through legislation, as proposed in H.R. 4730 and S. 2722.”