US Steel Import Permits Up 27%

A recent report released by the American Institute of Iron and Steel (AISI) indicates a significant increase in steel import filings in the month of April this year.

Based on the latest data from the Department of Trade and Steel Import Analysis (SIMA), the number of permits increased by 3.6% on a monthly basis from 2.794 million tons in March 1919 to 2.884 million tons in April this year. Permit applications are up over 27% compared to final imports in March 2019. Permits for finished steel rose 6.6% to 1.983 million tonnes.

The country's total steel imports in the first four months of the year amounted to 11.079 million tonnes, of which finished steel amounted to 8.039 million tonnes. This import includes March final data and April SIMA approvals. Compared to January-April 2018, the total volume of steel imports decreased by 11.1%.

According to SIMA data for April 2019, import permits for standard rails increased by 223%. Other products that reported significant increases in imports were galvanized electrolytic wire and wire rod sheets and strips, whose approvals increased by 153% and 80%, respectively. Meanwhile, between January and April 1919, pipelines recorded the largest increase in permits by 21%.

Among offshore countries, South Korea recorded the highest number of steel import applications in April, followed by Japan and Germany. In addition, these three countries became the top three suppliers in the first four months of 2019.