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Specialty Steel Industry of North America Releases Market Data for August 2012

11/19/2012 - The Specialty Steel Industry of North America has released statistical data on imports, U.S. consumption, and import penetration for YTD August 2012, commenting that it is particularly tracking remarkable growth in imports of stainless plate, which are up nearly 31% over 2011 levels.

The Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA) has released statistical data on imports, U.S. consumption, and import penetration for YTD August 2012. The data represents U.S. consumption, imports, and import penetration for August 2012 compared to the same 2011 eight month period.
The following data is presented by specialty steel product line, total stainless steel, and total specialty steel:
  • Stainless steel sheet/strip: Imports in YTD August 2012 were 320,160 tons, a 11.9% increase compared to YTD August 2011; U.S. consumption was 1,163,944 tons, a 5.8% increase; eight month import penetration was 27.5%, a 1.5 percentage point increase from 2011.
  • Stainless steel plate: Imports in YTD August 2012 were 160,194 tons, a 30.9% increase compared to YTD August 2011; U.S. consumption was 305,897 tons, a 22.3% increase; eight month import penetration was 52.4%, an 3.5 percentage point increase from 2011.
  • Stainless steel bar: Imports in YTD August 2012 were 103,590 tons, a 6.1% increase compared to YTD August 2011; U.S. consumption was 181,067 tons, a 0.9% increase; eight month import penetration was 57.2%, a 2.8 percentage point increase from 2011.
  • Stainless steel rod: Imports in YTD August 2012 were 21,436 tons, a 9.3% increase compared to YTD August 2011; U.S. consumption was 50,096 tons, a 3.8% decrease; eight month import penetration was 42.8%, a 5.1 percentage point increase from 2011. 
  • Stainless steel wire: Imports in YTD August 2012 were 33,070 tons, a 4.6% increase compared to YTD August 2011; U.S. consumption was 40,515 tons, a 1.7% decrease; eight month import penetration was 81.6%, a 4.9 percentage point increase from 2011.
Imports of total stainless steel (comprising the foregoing product lines) in YTD August 2012 were 638,449 tons, a 14.5% increase compared to YTD August 2011; U.S. consumption was 1,741,518 tons, a 7.3% increase; eight month import penetration was 36.7%, a 2.4 percentage point increase from 2011.
  • Alloy tool steel: Imports in YTD August 2012 were 92,069 tons, a 25.4% increase compared to YTD August 2011; U.S. consumption and import penetration were not calculable.
  • Electrical steel: Imports in YTD August 2012 were 81,148 tons, a 9.7% increase compared to YTD August 2011; U.S. consumption and import penetration were not calculable. 
Imports of total specialty steel (comprising stainless steel, alloy tool steel and electrical steel) in YTD August 2012 were 811,667 tons, a 15.2% increase compared to YTD August 2011; U.S. consumption and import penetration were not calculable.
“SSINA is particularly tracking the remarkable growth in imports of stainless steel plate, up nearly 31% over 2011 year-to-date.  This is well above the growth in U.S. consumption for the same period” said David A. Hartquist of Kelley Drye & Warren, counsel to SSINA.
The Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA) is a Washington, DC-based trade association representing virtually all continental specialty metals producers, which include high technology, high value stainless and other specialty alloy products.