Preliminary Steel Imports Increase 6% in May
06/22/2011 - The U.S. imported a total of 2,692,000 net tons of steel in May, up 6% from April final data, according to the latest report from AISI.
The U.S. imported a total of 2,692,000 net tons of steel in May, up 6% from April 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 May total included 1,838,000 net tons of finished steel, down 5% from April final data.
Annualized total steel imports in 2011 would be 28.0 million net tons, up 17% vs. 2010. Annualized finished steel imports would be 21.1 million net tons, up 12% vs. 2010.
Finished steel import market share in May was an estimated 21% and is also 21% year-to date.
Key finished steel products with significant import increases in May 2011 compared to April include
· Wire rod, up 35%
· Plates in coils, up 23%
· Oil country goods, up 15%
· Heavy structural shapes (up 14%).
Major products with significant year-to-date import increases vs. the same period last year include reinforcing bar (up 55%), oil country goods (up 41%) and hot rolled bars (up 25%).
In May, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (213,000 net tons, down 31%), Japan (131,000 net tons, up 16%), China (119,000 net tons, up 23%), Germany (78,000 net tons up 8%), and Turkey (69,000 net tons, down 42%).
For the first 5 months of 2011, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (1,164,000 net tons, up 58%), Japan (615,000 net tons, up 12%) and Germany (415,000 net tons, up 6%).
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.
