The US International Trade Administration (ITA) released data this week showing that the US' steel imports in January 2008 totaled 2,675,336 metric tons (mt), an increase of 33 percent from December 2007, and a decrease of 10 percent from January 2007.
The increase from December to January was due to an increase in all goods, particularly rebar which rose 131.5 percent from December to January. Another major increase in steel imports seen from December to January was oil country tubular goods, which were up 113.23 percent.
Compared to imports in January 2007, the steel imports in January 2008 that saw the biggest decreases were wire rods, which were down 53.18 percent from the previous year, and cold rolled sheet, which was down 40.39 percent. One product that showed a major year-on-year increase in January 2008 was line pipe, up 104.01 percent from last year.