Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported Tuesday that the US imported a total of 2,842,000 net tons (nt) of steel in July 2008, 4 percent more than in the previous month (June). However, total steel imports for the first seven months of 2008 were down 11 percent from the same period of 2007.
Key products with large increases in July compared to the month before include: Sheet & Strip-All Other (up 36 percent), Reinfocing Bar (up 30 percent), Oil Country Goods (up 18 percent), Sheet & Strip-Hot Dipped Galvanized (up 14 percent) and Plates in Coils (up 14 percent). Year-to-date at the end of July, products with significant increases compared to the same period of 2007 include Oil Country Goods (up 32 percent) and Line Pipe (up 14 percent).
The Preliminary Census Data show that import totals for most steel products in the first seven months of 2008 registered decreases compared to the same period of 2007, with the largest decreases seen in Bars-Reinforcing (-47.6 percent), Sheets & Strip-All Other (-36.4 percent), and Wire Rods (-34.3 percent).