Preliminary Steel Imports Increase 3% in April
05/27/2011 - The U.S. imported a total of 2,535,000 net tons of steel in April, up 3% from March final data according to the latest report from AISI.
The U.S. imported a total of 2,535,000 net tons of steel in April, up 3% from March 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 April total included 1,915,000 net tons of finished steel, up 2% from March final data).
Annualized total steel imports in 2011 would be 26.9 million net tons, up 12% vs. 2010. Annualized finished steel imports would be 20.8 million net tons, up 10% vs. 2010.
Finished steel import market share in April was an estimated 22% and is 21% year-to date.
Key finished steel products with significant import increases in April 2011 compared to March include
· Reinforcing bar (+ 52%)
· Line pipe (+ 51%)
· Hot dip galvanized sheet and strip (+ 38%)
· Plates in coil (+ 25%)
· Hot rolled sheets (+ 14%).
Major products with significant year-to-date import increases vs. the same period last year include oil country goods (+ 58%) and reinforcing bar (+ 54%).
In April, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (309,000 net tons, up 28%), India (126,000 net tons, up 137%), Turkey (118,000 net tons up 138%), Japan (106,000 net tons, down 6%) and China (96,000 net tons, up 42%).
For the first 4 months of 2011, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (951,000 net tons, up 71%), Japan (478,000 net tons, up 12%) and Germany (336,000 net tons, up 16%).
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 118 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.
