Preliminary Steel Imports Slip 11% in August
09/29/2010 - The U.S. imported a total of 2,155,000 net tons of steel in August, down 11% from July data, according to the latest report from AISI. The August total included 1,668,000 net tons of finished steel, down 8% from July data.
The U.S. imported a total of 2,155,000 net tons of steel in August, down 11% from July 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 August total included 1,668,000 net tons of finished steel, down 8% from July data.
On an annualized basis, total steel imports in 2010 would be 24.4 million 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 21% in August, vs. the year-high 24% in July and a low of 15% in August 2009. For the year-to-date, finished steel import market share is 21%. In the first 8 months of 2010, total and finished steel imports were up 54% and 30%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.
Key finished steel products with significant import increases in August 2010 (compared to July) include:
· Heavy structural shapes, +32%
· Reinforcing bars, +25%
· Hot-rolled bars, +22%
Many finished steel products have registered significant year-to-date import increases in 2010 vs. the same period last year, including wire rods (up 147%), hot rolled sheets (up 52%) and hot-dip galvanized sheets and strips (up 44%).
In August, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (198,000net tons, up 1%), Japan (137,000 net tons, up 9%), China (99,000net tons, up 5%), Turkey (85,000 net tons, up 74%) and Taiwan (71,000net tons, up 165%).
For the first eight months of 2010, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (1,282,000net tons, up 37%), Japan (884,000 net tons, up 30%) and Germany (603,000 net tons, up 76%).
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.
