According to final census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of light-shaped bar (merchant bar) totaled 12,599 mt in August 2023, up 6.9 percent from July but down 23.3 percent from August 2022 levels. By value, merchant bar imports totaled $11.4 million in August 2023, compared to $11.3 million in July and $20.0 million in August 2022.
The US imported the most merchant bar from Mexico in August, with 7,888 mt, compared to 5,906 mt in July and 8,628 mt in August 2022. Other top sources of imported merchant bar in August include Canada, with 4,341 mt.