The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has announced that, based on preliminary Census Bureau data, it forecasts that total steel imports of the US will decline by 11.9 percent to 26.94 million mt in 2019, as compared to 2018. AISI also expects the finished steel imports of the country to decrease by 14.3 percent year on year to 19.96 million mt in 2019.
According to AISI, hot rolled sheet imports will see the biggest decline in 2019, with 26.7 percent, while cold rolled sheet imports are expected to decrease by 22.9 percent, both year on year. The institute also expects plates-in-coil imports to decrease by 24.1 percent, galvanized sheet and strip imports to fall by 16.3 percent, wire rod imports to decrease by 11.6 percent and mechanical tubing imports to decline by 10.8 percent, all year on year.
Meanwhile, AISI expects finished steel imports from Brazil to increase by 27.7 percent year on year in 2019. However, it forecasts that finished steel imports from Vietnam, Germany and Italy will decline respectively by 32.7 percent,18.4 percent and 15.2 percent, year on year.