Based on final Census Bureau data, the American
Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a
total of 1,898,000 net tons (NT) of steel in December 2018, including
1,679,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 20.4% and 12.6%,
respectively, vs. November final data). For the full year of 2018, total
and finished steel imports are 33,731,000 and 25,694,000 net tons (NT),
down 11.5% and 13.1%, respectively, compared to full year 2017. Finished
steel import market share was 19% in December and 23% for full year 2018.
Key
finished steel products with a significant import increase in December
compared to November were heavy structural shapes (up 20%) and line pipe
(up 12%). Major products with significant increases for full year 2018 vs.
full year 2017 include hot rolled sheets (up 22%) and plates in coils (up
15%).
Steel mill
product
|
Dec.2018
final
|
Nov.2018
final
|
% Var Dec.VS
Nov.
|
2018
|
2017
|
% Var 2018 VS
2017
|
Ingots and
billets and slabs
|
216,741
|
461,767
|
-53.10%
|
8,007,909
|
8,519,484
|
-6.00%
|
Sheets &
Strip Galv Hot dipped
|
196,095
|
231,024
|
-15.10%
|
3,037,149
|
3,421,194
|
-11.20%
|
Oil country
goods
|
134,248
|
171,217
|
-21.60%
|
2,801,554
|
3,416,194
|
-18.00%
|
Sheets Hot
Rolled
|
183,703
|
193,399
|
-5.00%
|
2,601,208
|
2,129,384
|
22.20%
|
Sheets Cold
Rolled
|
155,001
|
163,352
|
-5.10%
|
2,242,872
|
2,932,375
|
-23.50%
|
Line Pipe
|
203,874
|
181,821
|
12.10%
|
2,195,938
|
2,234,960
|
-1.70%
|
Plates in
coils
|
101,714
|
122,255
|
-16.80%
|
1,566,183
|
1,365,316
|
14.70%
|
Bars - Hot
rolled
|
75,171
|
112,027
|
-32.90%
|
1,225,618
|
1,453,127
|
-15.70%
|
Bars -
Reinforcing
|
37,643
|
52,064
|
-27.70%
|
1,168,101
|
1,566,310
|
-25.40%
|
Wire rods
|
106,132
|
114,486
|
-7.30%
|
1,153,493
|
1,581,077
|
-27.00%
|
Sheets &
Strip all other Met.Ctd
|
52,621
|
86,820
|
-39.40%
|
933,323
|
1,173,623
|
-20.50%
|
Standard pipe
|
44,366
|
59,831
|
-25.80%
|
884,528
|
1,165,069
|
-24.10%
|
Tin plate
|
52,672
|
53,829
|
-2.10%
|
769,213
|
941,400
|
-18.30%
|
Wire drawn
|
52,971
|
54,581
|
-2.90%
|
767,330
|
856,820
|
-10.40%
|
Plates cut
lengths
|
33,325
|
62,533
|
-46.70%
|
659,767
|
828,010
|
-20.30%
|
Mechanical
tubing
|
42,600
|
55,296
|
-23.00%
|
656,439
|
669,791
|
-2.00%
|
Structural
shapes heavy
|
35,464
|
29,595
|
19.80%
|
569,336
|
859,808
|
-33.80%
|
All other
|
173,235
|
178,864
|
-3.10%
|
2,491,325
|
3,012,041
|
-17.30%
|
Total
|
1,897,576
|
2,384,761
|
-20.40%
|
33,731,284
|
38,125,982
|
-11.50%
|
Subtotal
finished imports
|
1,678,577
|
1,921,239
|
-12.60%
|
25,694,344
|
29,560,937
|
-13.10%
|
In
December the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were
from Germany (114,000 NT,down 9% from November final), Vietnam (100,000
NT, down 17%), South Korea (91,000 NT, down 53%), Japan (97,000 NT, down
16%) and Turkey (53,000 NT, down 10%). For full year 2018, the largest
offshore suppliers were South Korea (2,764,000 NT, down 26% vs. full year
2017), Japan (1,383,000 NT, down 8%), Germany (1,339,000 NT, down 5%),
Turkey (1,153,000 NT, down 47%) and Vietnam (1,110,000 NT, up 48%). Below
are charts on estimated steel import market share in recent months and on
finished steel imports from offshore by country.
Country
|
Dec.2018
final
|
Nov.2018
final
|
% Var Dec.VS
Nov.
|
2018
|
2017
|
% Var 2018 VS
2017
|
South Korea
|
91
|
195
|
-53.40%
|
2764
|
3753
|
-26.30%
|
Japan
|
97
|
115
|
-10%
|
1383
|
1504
|
-8.10%
|
Germany
|
114
|
125
|
-8.50%
|
1339
|
1405
|
-4.70%
|
Turkey
|
53
|
59
|
-10.30%
|
1153
|
2191
|
-47.40%
|
Vietnam
|
100
|
121
|
-17.10%
|
1110
|
749
|
48.20%
|
Taiwan
|
52
|
100
|
-47.60%
|
1069
|
1245
|
-14.20%
|
China
|
47
|
65
|
-27.80%
|
696
|
813
|
-14.40%
|
Netherlands
|
45
|
79
|
-42.90%
|
613
|
658
|
-6.80%
|
All others
|
1079
|
1063
|
1.60%
|
15568
|
17243
|
-9.70%
|
Total
|
1679
|
1921
|
-12.60%
|
25694
|
29561
|
-13.10%
|
U.S.
IMPORTS OF FINISHED STEEL MILL PRODUCTS 3 MONTHS ROLLING AVERAGE
(thousands
of net tons)
Steel mill
product
|
Final 3 Mos.
Rolling Avg. Dec.18-Oct.18
|
Final 3 Mos.
Rolling Avg. Sep.18-Jul.18
|
Current 3 mos
VS 2 mos prior % change
|
Sheets &
Strip Galv Hot dipped
|
229
|
249
|
-8.10%
|
Sheets Hot
Rolled
|
211
|
231
|
-8.40%
|
Line Pipe
|
194
|
169
|
14.80%
|
Sheets Cold
Rolled
|
167
|
174
|
-4.10%
|
Oil country
goods
|
161
|
201
|
-19.70%
|
Plates in
coils
|
124
|
133
|
-6.70%
|
Wire rods
|
98
|
95
|
3.10%
|
Bars - Hot
rolled
|
97
|
80
|
21.20%
|
Sheets &
Strip all other Met.Ctd
|
70
|
80
|
-12.20%
|
Standard pipe
|
57
|
67
|
-14.80%
|
All other
|
460
|
549
|
-16.20%
|
Total
finished imports
|
1868
|
2027
|
-7.80%
|
U.S.
IMPORTS OF FINISHED STEEL MILL PRODUCTS 3 MONTHS ROLLING AVERAGE
(thousands
of net tons)
Country
|
Final 3 Mos.
Rolling Avg. Dec.18-Oct.18
|
Final 3 Mos.
Rolling Avg. Sep.18-Jul.18
|
Current 3 mos
VS 2 mos prior % change
|
South Korea
|
156
|
184
|
-15.20%
|
Germany
|
118
|
109
|
8.00%
|
Turkey
|
60
|
109
|
-45.00%
|
Japan
|
106
|
108
|
-1.30%
|
Taiwan
|
75
|
95
|
-21.40%
|
Vietnam
|
112
|
88
|
26.40%
|
Italy
|
51
|
67
|
-24.30%
|
Netherlands
|
67
|
56
|
19.40%
|
China
|
57
|
48
|
20.20%
|
Greece
|
25
|
35
|
-29.50%
|
All other
|
1041
|
1128
|
-7.70%
|
Total
finished imports
|
1868
|
2027
|
-7.80%
|
source: AISI |