Steel imports decline in September

Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the United States imported a total of 2,238,000 net tons (NT) of steel in September, including 1,662,000 NT of finished steel (each down 9 percent from August final data). Finished steel import market share in September was an estimated 20 percent and is 22 percent year-to date (YTD).

Key finished steel products with significant import increases in September 2011 compared to August include standard rails (up 100 percent) and tin plate (up 50 percent).

Major products with significant YTD import increases vs. the same period last year include cut length plates (up 52 percent), plates in coils (up 34 percent), hot rolled bar (up 28 percent), oil country goods (up 25 percent), reinforcing bar (up 24), cold rolled sheets (up 23 percent) and line pipe (up 22 percent).

In September, the largest volumes of finished steel imports were from South Korea (212,000 NT, up 6 percent), Japan (119,000 NT, up 26 percent), China (107,000 NT, down 11 percent), Germany (64,000 NT, down 22 percent) and The Netherlands (59,000 NT, up 127 percent).