Steel imports increased in the USA

The American Metallurgical Institute announced that the United States imported a total of 3.726 million tonnes of steel in April 2014, including 2.738 million tonnes of finished products, up 15.2% and 12.2% from March, respectively.

The main products that ensured the increase in imports in April compared to March were wire rod (up to 71%), heavy structural forms (up to 43%), pipes (up to 34%), cold-rolled sheets (up to 27%), standard pipes (up to 24 %), hot-rolled strips (up to 21%) and plates in coils (up to 14%).

In April, the largest volumes of finished steel imports were supplied from Asia and Europe. 416 thousand tons were imported from China, 401 thousand tons from South Korea, 210 thousand tons from Japan, 138 thousand tons from Turkey and 106 thousand tons from Russia.

Since the beginning of the year, imports of steel and finished steel products have grown by 29% and 20%, respectively, compared to 2013. On an annualized basis, imports of steel and finished products in 2014 will be 40.4 and 29.7 million tons, up 26% and 20%, respectively, compared to 2013. The share of finished imports on the steel market was estimated at 27% in April and 26% YTD.

The main products that showed a significant increase in imports since the beginning of the year compared to last year include wire rod (up to 113%), plates into coils (up to 68%), cold-rolled sheets (up to 52%), reinforcing bars (up to 47%), sheets and strips with metal coatings (up to 41%), galvanized sheets and strips (up to 35%), hot rolled products (35%), mechanical pipes (31%).