In November 2007, steel imports to the US decreased from both the previous month's levels and from November 2006 levels, the US Department of Commerce and the International Trade Administration announced this week.
The preliminary data released this week show that overall steel imports to the US in November 2007 decreased 19 percent from October 2007, and were down 33 percent compared to November 2006.
The data show that the main change in November's steel import totals compared to October was a major decrease in blooms, billets, and slabs, which together decreased by 58.43 percent, from 749,652 mt to 311,634 mt, from October to November. Other month-on-month decreases were seen in hot dipped galvanized (HDG) sheet and strip, standard pipe, cold rolled sheets, and wire rods.
In contrast to the overall trend, both imports of hot rolled sheets and oil country tubular goods (OCTG) increased from October to November by 38.59 percent and 48.31 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, imports of rebar, line pipe and plates in coils increased month-on-month by smaller amounts, i.e. by 9.83 percent, 6.87 percent, and 4.10 percent, respectively.
Year-over-year (November 2007 compared to November 2006), net decreases were seen in imports of wire rods, blooms, billets and slabs, HDG sheet and strip, rebar, plates in coils, standard pipe, and hot rolled sheet. Line pipe and OCTG imports increased year-over-year, by 30.36 percent and 11.04 percent, respectively.