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Preliminary Steel Imports Increase 25% in March
04/28/2010 - The U.S. imported a total of 1,971,000 net tons of steel in March, up 25% vs. February final data and the highest monthly total since January 2009 according to the latest report from AISI.
The U.S. imported a total of 1,971,000 net tons of steel in March, up 25% vs. February final data and the highest monthly total since January 2009 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 March total includes 1,568,000 net tons of finished steel, up 28% vs. February final data.
On an annualized basis, total steel imports in 2010 would be 20.9 million net tons, up 29% vs. 2009. Finished steel imports in 2010 would be 16.3 million net tons, up 15% vs. 2009. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 19% in March.
Key finished steel products with significant import increases in March 2010 compared to February include
- Plate in coils, + 67%
- Oil country goods, + 61%
- Hot dip galvanized sheets and strip, + 53%
- Cut-length plates, + 51%
- Hot rolled bars, + 40%
In March, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from Japan (137,000 net tons, up 19%), South Korea (109,000 net tons, up 11%), Germany (83,000 net tons, up 207%), China (58,000 net tons, up 27%) and Australia (57,000 net tons, up 18%).
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 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.
