According to final census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of light-shaped bar (merchant bar) totaled 16,692 mt in March 2023, up 17.9 percent from February but down 4.8 percent from March 2022 levels. By value, merchant bar imports totaled $16.2 million in March 2023, compared to $14.7 million in February and $21.1 million in March 2022.
The US imported the most merchant bar from Mexico in March, with 9,690 mt, compared to 7,461 mt in February and 9,376 mt in March 2022. Other top sources of imported merchant bar in March include Canada, with 6,639 mt.