Preliminary Steel Imports Slide Another 3% in September
10/27/2010 - The U.S. imported a total of 2,107,000 net tons of steel in September, down 3% from August data according to the latest report from AISI. The September total includes 1,589,000 net tons of finished steel, down 6% from August data.
The U.S. imported a total of 2,107,000 net tons of steel in September, down 3% from August 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 September total included 1,589,000 net tons of finished steel, down 6% from August data.
On an annualized basis, total steel imports in 2010 would be 24.6 net tons, up 51% vs. 2009, while finished steel imports would be 19.0 million net tons, up 34% vs. 2009.
Finished steel import market share was an estimated 20% in September, vs. a high for the year of 24% (July) and a low of 15% in August 2009. Key finished steel products with significant import increases in September 2010 compared to August include
· Cut-length plates (up 51%)
· Hot rolled sheets (up 39%)
· Cold rolled sheets (up 36%)
· Plates in coils (up 27%)
Many finished steel products have registered significant year-to-date import increases in 2010 vs. the same period last year, including wire rods (up 125%) and hot rolled sheets (up 50%).
In September, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (208,000 net tonnes, up 5%), Japan (113,000 net tonnes, down 19%), China (101,000 net tonnes, up 1%), The Netherlands (63,000 net tonnes, up 43%) and Germany (58,000 net tonnes, down 13%).
For the year to date, finished steel import market share is 21%, while total and finished steel imports were up 56% and 32%, respectively, in the first nine months of 2010 as compared to the same period last year. The largest offshore suppliers through this period were South Korea (1,491,000 net tonnes, up 49%), Japan (999,000 net tonnes, up 37%) and China (668,000 net tonnes, down 49%).
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 23 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.
