Source: AISI analysis of US Census Bureau data.
Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported last week that the US imported a total of 2,351,000 net tons (NT) of steel in November 2015, including 1,921,000 NT of finished steel (down 22.7% and 15.6%, respectively, vs. October final data).
Year-to-date (YTD) through 11 months of 2015 total and finished steel imports are 36,294,000 and 29,375,000 NT, respectively, down 11% and 5% respectively, vs. the same period in 2014. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2015 would be 39.6 and 32 million NT, down 11% and 5% respectively vs. 2014. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 25% in November and is estimated at 29% YTD.
Key finished steel products with a significant import increase in November compared to October are cut length plates (up 42%) and oil country goods (up 12%). Major products with significant YTD import increases vs. the same period last year include reinforcing bar (up 39%), standard pipe (up 18%), line pipe (up 17%) and wire drawn (up 11%).