Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 1,502,000 net tons (NT) of steel in October 2020, including 1,244,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (up 19.6% and 6.6%, respectively, vs. September final data). Through the first ten months of 2020, total and finished steel imports are 19,149,000 and 13,612,000 net tons (NT), down 22.8% and 25.9%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2019. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2020 would be 23.0 and 16.3 million NT, down 17.7% and 22.4%, respectively, vs. 2019. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 18% in October and is estimated at 18% over the first ten months of 2020.
Key finished steel products with a significant increase in imports in October compared to September are oil country goods (up 105.9%), reinforcing bars (up 95.4%), cold rolled sheets (up 41.2%), heavy structural shapes (up 37.1%), wire rods (up 35.8%), hot rolled bars (31.3%) and wire drawn (up 16.2%).
source: AISI |
