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Preliminary Data Shows Large Increase in U.S. Imports 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%).