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U.S. Imports Decline 14% from November to December
01/24/2013 - Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,339,000 tons of steel in December 2012, including 1,654,000 tons of finished steel (down 14% and 19%, respectively, from November final data).
Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,339,000 tons of steel in December 2012, including 1,654,000 tons of finished steel (down 14% and 19%, respectively, from November final data). Preliminary total and finished steel imports for 2012 are 33.3 and 25.7 million tons, up 17% and 18%, each, respectively vs. 2011. Finished steel import market share in December was an estimated 20% and is estimated at 24% for full year 2012.
A key finished steel product with a significant import increase in December 2012 compared to November is hot rolled sheets (up 37%). Major products with significant full year 2012 import increases vs. 2011 include reinforcing bar (up 49%), line pipe (up 40%), sheets & strip galvanized hot dipped (up 36%), oil country goods (up 24%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 22%) and cut lengths plates (up 19%).
In December, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were all from Asia and Europe. They were China (164,000 tons, up 3%), South Korea (134,000 tons, down 55%), Germany (92,000 tons, down 9%), Japan (80,000 tons, down 44%) and Turkey (49,000 tons, down 56%). For full year 2012, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (3,626,000 tons, up 28%), Japan (1,924,000 tons, up 30%), China (1,646,000 tons, up 34%), Turkey(1,347,000 tons, up 84%) and Germany (1,245,000 tons, up 31%).
