Preliminary Data Shows Large Increase in U.S. Imports in January 2014
02/06/2014 - Preliminary U.S. government data analyzed by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) showed U.S. steel imports rising significantly in January 2014.
Based on preliminary U.S. Census Bureau data, AISI reported that the U.S. imported a total of 3,172,000 tons of steel in January 2014, including 2,409,000 tons of finished steel (up 26.6% and 27.5%, respectively, vs. December final data). Year-to-date (YTD) total and finished steel imports are 3,172,000 and 2,409,000 tons, respectively, up 21% and 12% respectively, vs. 2013. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 26% in January.
Key finished steel products with a significant import increase in January compared to December 2013 are reinforcing bars (up 168%), wire rods (up 145%), sheet and strip all other metallic coatings (up 115%), oil country goods (up 58%), plates in coils (up 39%), sheets and strip galvanized hot dipped (up 38%), cold rolled sheets (up 23%) and hot rolled sheets (up 11%).
In January, the largest volumes of finished steel imports were from South Korea (429,000 tons, up 43% vs. December final), Turkey (200,000 tons, up 341%), China (191,000 tons, up 33%), Japan (159,000 tons, up 6%) and Taiwan (102,000 tons, up 127%).
Key finished steel products with a significant import increase in January compared to December 2013 are reinforcing bars (up 168%), wire rods (up 145%), sheet and strip all other metallic coatings (up 115%), oil country goods (up 58%), plates in coils (up 39%), sheets and strip galvanized hot dipped (up 38%), cold rolled sheets (up 23%) and hot rolled sheets (up 11%).
In January, the largest volumes of finished steel imports were from South Korea (429,000 tons, up 43% vs. December final), Turkey (200,000 tons, up 341%), China (191,000 tons, up 33%), Japan (159,000 tons, up 6%) and Taiwan (102,000 tons, up 127%).
