The U.S. imported a total of 2,415,000 net tons of steel in July, up 19% from June data, according to the latest report from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
The report, which is based on preliminary Census Bureau data, shows that the July total included 1,797,000 net tons of finished steel, up 15% from June data.
On an annualized basis, total steel imports in 2010 would be 24.2 million net tons, up 49% vs. 2009, while finished steel imports would be 18.8 million net tons, up 33% vs. 2009.
Finished steel import market share was an estimated 22% in July, vs. 20% in June and a low of 15% in August 2009. In the first seven months of 2010, total and finished steel imports were up 47% and 23%, respectively, compared to the same period last year.
Key finished steel products with significant import increases in July 2010 compared to June include
· Line pipe, +61%
· Oil country goods, +34%
· Plates in coils, +26%
· Hot rolled sheets, +26%
· Cut-length plates, +22%
Many finished steel products have registered significant year-to-date import increases in 2010 vs. the same period last year, including wire rods (up 166%) and hot rolled sheets (up 56%).
In July, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (196,000 net tons, up 29%), Japan (125,000 net tons, up 75%), Germany (87,000 net tons, up 41%), India (145,000 net tons, up 177%) and China (94,000 net tons, up 19%).
For the first seven months of 2010, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (1,085,000 net tons, up 28%), Japan (746,000 net tons, up 16%) and Germany (539,000 net tons, up 68%).
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. The Institute comprises 23 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.