Finished Steel Imports Rise by 8% in January
02/24/2011 - The U.S. imported a total of 2,048,000 net tons of steel in January, up 10% from December final data according to the latest report from AISI.
The U.S. imported a total of 2,048,000 net tons of steel in January, up 10% from December 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 January total included 1,632,000 net tons of finished steel, up 8% from December final data.
Annualized total steel imports in 2011 would be 24.6 million net tons, up 3% vs. 2010. Finished steel imports in 2011 would annualize at 19.6 million net tons, up 4% vs. 2010. Finished steel import market share in January was an estimated 21% (same as in full-year 2010), up from 20% in December.
Key finished steel products with significant import increases in January 2011 compared to December include
· Reinforcing bar (up 44%)
· Wire rod (up 34%)
· Standard pipe (up 38%)
· Line pipe (up 34%)
· Oil country goods (up 24%)
In January, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (213,000 net tons, up 9%), Japan (126,000 net tons, up 23%), Germany (78,000 net tons, up 20%), Australia (74,000 net tons, up 78%) and China (58,000 net tons, down 9%).
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 140 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.
