Preliminary Finished Steel Imports Up 4% in October
11/23/2011 - The U.S. imported a total of 2,192,000 net tons of steel in October, down 3% vs. September final data according to the latest report from AISI. Finished steel imports were up 4% through the same period.
The U.S. imported a total of 2,192,000 net tons (NT) of steel in October, down 3% vs. September 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 October total included 1,754,000 net tons of finished steel, up 4% vs. September final data.
Annualized total steel imports in 2011 would be 29.0 million net tons, up 21% vs. 2010, while finished steel imports in 2011 would annualize at 22.2 million net tons, up 18% vs. 2010. Finished steel import market share in October was an estimated 21%; for the year to dates, it is 22%.
Key finished steel products with significant import increases in October 2011 compared to September include
· Hot rolled sheets (up 49%)
· Sheet and strip - all other metallic coated (up 33%)
· Mechanical tubing (up 23%)
Major products with significant YTD import increases vs. the same period last year include
· Cut-length plates (up 56%)
· Plates in coils (up 33%)
· Hot rolled bar (up 27%)
· Line pipe (up 26%)
· Oil country goods (up 22%)
In October, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (213,000 net tons, up 0.1%), Japan (113,000 net tons, down 7%), China (104,000 net tons, down 4%), Australia (96,000 net tons, up 93%) and Germany (82,000 net tons, up 27%).
For the first 10 months of 2011, the largest offshore suppliers have been South Korea (2,440,000 net tons, up 44%), Japan (1,225,000 net tons, up 9%) and China (1,050,000 net tons, up 45%).
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 120 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.
