Steel imports decline 11 percent in August

Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the United States imported a total of 2,155,000 net tons (NT) of steel in August, including 1,668,000 NT of finished steel (down 11 percent and 8 percent from July data).

Finished steel import market share was an estimated 21 percent in August, vs. year high 24 percent in July and a low of 15 percent in August 2009. For year to date, finished steel import market share is 21 percent. In the first 8 months of 2010, total and finished steel imports were up 54 percent and 30 percent, 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 (up 32 percent), reinforcing bars (up 25 percent) and hot-rolled bars (up 22 percent). 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 percent) and hot rolled sheets (up 52 percent).