The American Institute of Cast iron and began to further increase the import of metal distribution in the United States

The American Institute of Cast iron and steel (AISI) said that the continuing fourth year in a row, the increase in the import of metal rolling in the United States will be 2 - 3%in 2013, adding problems to local steel producers.

In an interview for Reuters, AISI representatives reported that in 2012 the visible consumption of steel in the United States increased by 7.8%, and imports increased by 18%, significantly limiting the market share of American steel plants.

This year, taking into account the forecasts of growth in the consumption of metal rolling in the United States, AISI analysts expect an increase in steel imports by at least 3%. President and Executive Director of this organization Mr. Gibson believes that this figure is too optimistic due to the expansion of cheap steel in world markets.

“We are concerned about this and have repeatedly raised these issues in the government,” said Gibson. “Our metallurgy is quite competitive, but because of the behavior of some governments that provide significant subsidies to their enterprises, we have certain problems.”

Global steel overproduction, estimated by AISI analysts at 400 million tons around the world, 200 million of which are produced in China, prompted various countries to more aggressive actions in export markets. Over the past year alone, export from China to the United States has grown into “not acceptable”, from the point of view of AISI, 34%.

The consequence of increasing imports and weakening of the domestic market in the United States was a decrease in the production of metal products on American power plants by 7% in the first five weeks of this year.

Aisi calls on the US government to revise its policy regarding countries, Brazil and Russia seeking to expand the export of steel. “We are trying to encourage the government to cooperate with other countries and reaches agreements on the termination of the practice of dishonest trade and politics,” says Kevin Dampsis, senior vice president of AISI on public relations.

According to Dampsis, in addition to the growth of legal imports, steel in the United States, gray imports flourish on its territory: “Market operators distort information about the origin of the metal rolling, thus avoiding the payment of imported and other duties. Such services today are even advertised by some companies, but we are trying to improve the legislative framework to reduce illegal imports. ”