US Imports Down 11% In June This Year - AISI

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), the United States imported a total of 3,586,000 tonnes of steel in June, down 11.1% from May. However, over the past period since the beginning of the year, imports of steel products amounted to 21,082,000 tons, which is 34 percent higher compared to the same period in 2013.

The share of finished steel on the import market amounted to about 27 percent in June, and it has been estimated in the same ratio since the beginning of the year. The main types of finished steel products with a significant increase in imports in June compared to May are cold-rolled sheets (up to 26%), plates (up to 26%) and sheet metal (up to 14%).

Products with a significant increase in imports since the beginning of the year compared to the same period last year are: wire rod (up to 100%), cold-rolled sheet (up to 67%), galvanized sheets and strips (up to 51%), coated sheets and strips (up to 48 %), hot rolled sheets (42%), mechanical pipes (34%), heavy structural forms (up to 25%), reinforcement (up to 15%) and sheet metal (up to 15%).

In June, the largest volumes of finished imported steel products were received from Asia and Europe. Imports from South Korea totaled 457,000 tons, up 22% from May. China exported 230,000 tons, down 25 from May. Imports from Turkey increased by 25% compared to May to 189,000 tons. Japan reduced its exports by 5% to 138,000 tons. Imports from Germany fell 3% in June to 102,000 tons.

For the six months of 2014, the largest suppliers that showed growth compared to last year were South Korea 2,609,000 tons (up 49%), China 1,518,000 tons (up 69%), Japan 990,000 tons (3%), Turkey 951,000 tons (by 29%) and Russia 596,000 tons (up 344%).