"The small increase in arrivals in April show that slow improvement in the market continues, based on market conditions early in 2010 when the non-NAFTA orders were taken" said David Phelps, president, AIIS.
"While total imports are up 9.6 percent for the first four months of 2010 compared to 2009, it is imports of semifinished steel purchased by domestic mills that account for more than the total increase in the year to date figures. In fact, total imports of finished steel products have declined during the first four months of 2010 compared to 2009, reflecting the cautious buying patterns by consumers and distributors early in the year," concluded Phelps.
According to preliminary data, April imports experienced a .09 percent month-on-month increase from March to April. Import tonnages for April 2010, reported at 2.07 million tons, indicate a 68.4 percent year-on-year increase from the same time period in 2009. Year-to-date, imports have increased 9.6 percent from the same period in 2009. Semifinished imports, however, have experienced a 273.9 percent year-on-year increase in April 2010 compared to April 2009. Year-to-date, semifinished imports have increased 209.9 percent from the same period in 2009.