Year-to-date import levels remain above last year’s

Washington, DC— Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,609,000 net tons (NT) of steel in May, including 2,149,000 NT of finished steel. While imports in these categories were down 15.3 and 11.4 percent, respectively, compared to April 2005, several key products were up significantly, including reinforcing bars (up 44 percent), wire rod (up 30 percent), bars-light shapes (up 23 percent), plates-cut to length (up 11 percent) and line pipe (up 11 percent).

Year-to-date (YTD) total and finished imports compared to 2004 are up 15.1 and 16.3 percent, respectively, and finished imports have risen significantly in several key product categories. Comparing YTD data for ‘05 versus ‘04, large increases occurred in sheet & strip, all other metallic coated (up 104 percent), plate in coil (up 67 percent), tin plate (up 64 percent), plates-cut to length (up 62 percent), oil country tubular goods (up 59 percent), bars-cold finished (up 56 percent), cold-rolled sheet (up 42 percent), galvanized (hot-dipped) sheet & strip (up 41 percent), structural pipe & tubing (up 31 percent) and hot-rolled sheet (up 16 percent). YTD imports are also up substantially from non-market economies and countries that historically subsidize their steel industries and intervene in steel, raw material and currency markets. Notable increases include China (up 232 percent), Malaysia (up 192 percent), the Ukraine (up 190 percent), Taiwan (up 151 percent), Russia (up 85 percent) and Brazil (up 62 percent).