Steel import permits down

Based on the Commerce Department’s most recent Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that steel import permit applications for the month of September totaled 2,221,000 net tons (NT). This was an 11 percent decrease from the 2,481,000 permit tons recorded in August.

Import permit tonnage for finished steel in September was 1,659,000 NT, down 9 percent from the preliminary imports total of 1,813,000 NT in August. Year to date (YTD) 2011 total and finished steel import permit tons would annualize at 29,236,000 NT and 22,212,000 NT, up 22 percent and 18 percent, respectively, vs. the 23,929,000 NT and 18,857,000 NT imported in 2010.

The estimated finished steel import market share in September was 20 percent and is 22 percent YTD.