Canadian steel import permits in April

Canadian steel import permits in April

Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade recently released data on permitted steel imports for April 2005. The data show that permitted steel imports for April 1-30 totaled 581'293 metric tons. This is the highest monthly level in 2005. The figure was 474'094 metric tons in March. The permitted imports carried a trade value of C$581.2 million (US$464.5 million) at an average price of CA$1'226/mt (US$980/mt). The US continued to be the major steel exporter to Canada. The US shipped 369'384 metric tons to Canada, with nearly 75'000 tons from March. Steel import permits given to China decreased almost 50% from March to 25'000 metric tons. Germany passed China with an outstanding 310% increase to 38'000 metric tons. Russia's share in exports to Canada continued to decrease and reached 5'600 metric tons in April. Imports of hot rolled sheets reached 118'786 with 30'000 metric tons increase over March and corresponded to CA$102.96 million (US$82.26 million) in trade value. The US supplied 91'108 metric tons of that figure. New Zealand shipped 2'049 metric tons while Netherlands, Mexico and South Korea shipped approximately 1'300 metric tons each. Total cold rolled sheets almost doubled to 47'460 metric tons. The value of cold rolled sheet imports was nearly CA$50.87 million (US$40.65 million). Canada issued steel import permits for 32'383 metric tons of wire rod in April. Turkey accounted for 7'600 metric tons of it while Trinidad and Tobago accounted for 5'991 metric tons and the US accounted for 5'450 metric tons. Carbon alloyed cut plates decreased dramatically from 67'250 metric tons in March to 38'266 metric tons in April. The US alone accounted for 31'550 metric tons of the imports.