US government statistics show that during the month of February 2007 overall steel imports to the US decreased 10 percent from January 2007 levels.
The month-on-month change was largely due to a decrease in imports of wire rod, which were down 48 percent in February from the previous month; in hot rolled sheet imports, down 22 percent from January; and in heavy structural shapes, down 43 percent.
Compared to February 2006, the data show that overall steel imports in February 2007 were down 27 percent. February 2007 imports of wire rod were down 67 percent compared to February 2006 levels, hot rolled sheet imports were down 35 percent, while heavy structural products were down 40 percent.
For other commonly imported steel products, the February 2007 data show the following: cold rolled imports were down 16 percent from January 2007 and down 32 percent from February 2006; imports of cut-to-length plate increased 51 percent from January and decreased nine percent from last February; corrosion-resistant steel imports increased four percent from January and decreased 10 percent from last February; rebar imports increased six percent compared to January and increased 40 percent from last February; hot rolled bar imports decreased 13 percent from January and decreased 32 percent from last February; standard pipe imports were down 30 percent from January and up 38 percent from last February; OCTG imports were down 12 percent from January and up 20 percent from last February; semi finished steel imports were down five percent from January and down 41 percent from last February.