Preliminary 2010 Steel Imports up 47% vs. 2009
01/26/2011 - The U.S. imported a total 1,811,000 net tons of steel in December, up 1% from November final data, according to the latest report from AISI. The total included 1,445,000 net tons of finished steel, down 3% from November final data.
The U.S. imported a total 1,811,000 net tons of steel in December, up 1% from November 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 total included 1,445,000 net tons of finished steel (down 3% from November final data).
Full-year total steel imports in 2010 are 23.8 million net tons, up 47% vs. 2009, while full-year finished steel imports are 18.8 million net tons, up 33% vs. 2009.
Finished steel import share hit a high of 24% in July, and remained above 20% for the rest of the year. For full year 2010, finished steel import market share was an estimated 21%.
Key finished steel products with significant import increases in December 2010 compared to November include cut length plates (up 37%), hot rolled bars (up 25%) and line pipe (up 17%).
Many key finished steel products also registered large import increases for full-year 2010 vs. the year before, including
· Wire rods (up 73%)
· Hot rolled bars (up 56%)
· Oil country goods (up 48%)
· Plates in coils (up 40%)
· Hot rolled sheets (up 38%)
· Hot dipped galvanized sheet and strip (up 37%).
In December, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (165,000 net tons, up 8%), Japan (101,000 net tons, down 2%), Germany (65,000 net tons, down 6%), The Netherlands (65,000 net tons, up 2%) and China (55,000 net tons, down 21%).
For full-year 2010, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (2 million net tons, up 52%), Japan (1,324,000 net tons, up 35%), Germany (879,000 net tons, up 78%), China (849,000 net tons, down 42%) and India (713,000 net tons, up 23%).
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 24 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 140 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI’s member companies represent approximately 80 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity.
