Continued Surge Pushes Preliminary Finished Steel Imports up 5% in April
05/24/2012 - The U.S. imported a total of 2,997,000 net tons of steel in April, down 2% from March final data according to the latest report from AISI. Finished steel imports were up 5% through the same period.
The U.S. imported a total of 2,997,000 net tons of steel in April, down 2% from March final data according to the latest report from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
The report, which is based on preliminary Census Bureau data, shows that the April total included 2,336,000 net tons of finished steel, up 5% from March final data.
On an annualized basis, total steel imports in 2012 would be 34.8 million net tons, up 22% vs. 2011, while finished steel imports would be 26.5 million net tons, also up 22% vs. 2011. Finished steel import market share was 24% in April and 23% for the year to date.
Key finished steel products with significant import increases in April 2012 compared to March include:
· Plates in coils (up 138%)
· Hot rolled sheets (up 59%)
· Wire rods (up 56%)
· Sheet and strip, all other metallic coated (up 50%)
· Hot-dip galvanized sheets and strip (up 47%).
Major products with significant YTD import increases vs. the same period last year include:
· Plates in coils (up 67%)
· Reinforcing bars (up 63%)
· Cut-length plates (up 56%)
· Line pipe (up 44%)
· Hot-dip galvanized sheets and strip (up 43%)
In April, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (270,000 net tons, down 1%), Turkey (169,000 net tons, up 3%), Japan (143,000 net tons, down 19%), China (142,000 net tons, up 32%), and Germany (85,000 net tons, down 27%).
For the first 4 months of 2012, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (1,195,000 net tons, up 26%), Turkey (682,000 net tons, up 150%), and Japan (628,000 net tons, up 30%).
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. The Institute comprises 25 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 124 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.
