“The decline in steel imports was led by declines in arrivals of semi-finished steel products used by the domestic industry to augment their hot end capacity and OCTG. Given the overall subdued condition of the steel market late in 2013, end-of-the-year arrivals are sometimes affected by end-of-the-year inventory taxes due at the state level. Such taxes would clearly have an impact on OCTG arrivals, which are also affected by pending trade cases,” said Richard Chriss, AIIS executive director.
 
Steel imports for 11 months of 2013 compared to 11 months of 2012 were down by 4.4%, according to U.S. Government data. “The weaker level of demand for steel in 2013 compared to 2012 continues to manifest itself in these data, but we believe there are signs that in early 2014 the steel market is beginning a more normal seasonal upswing than experienced in early 2013,” concluded Chriss.
 
Total steel imports in November 2013 were 2.583 million tons compared to 3.101 million tons in October 2013, a 16.7% decrease, and a 4.9% decrease compared to November 2012. For the year-to-date period, imports decreased from 31.009 million tons in the first eleven months of 2012 to 29.635 million tons in the same 2013 period, a 4.4% decrease. The data show that imported semi-finished products increased by 0.6% in November 2013 compared to November 2012, from 674 thousand tons in 2012 to 678 thousand tons in 2013, based on preliminary reporting. For the year-to-date period, imported semi-finished products decreased from 6.963 million tons in the first eleven months of 2012 to 6.703 million tons in the same 2013 period, a 3.7% decrease.
 

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The American Institute for International Steel is the only steel-related association that supports free trade. The Institute accomplishes its mission through advocacy, networking, communications, and education.