Permitted steel imports to Canada for February

Permitted steel imports to Canada for February

Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade recently released data on permitted steel imports for February 2005. The data show that permitted steel imports amounted to 554'541 metric tons at an average price of CA$1'040/mt (US$837/mt). The US continued to be the major steel exporter to Canada in February, shipping a volume of 323'000 metric tons. Russia increased its share in exports to Canada to 18'000 metric tons from approximately 3'700 metric tons in January 2005. Kazakhstan also saw a major increase in its exports to Canada. On the other hand, import permits for shipments from China and Southeast Asian nations fell remarkably. Imports of hot rolled sheets, which fell 25'000 metric tons from January, topped the list at 102'879 metric tons, corresponding to CA$93.27 million (US$75.1 million). The US supplied 81'000 metric tons of that figure, while Malaysia and Russia exported 9'232 and 6'019 metric tons respectively. Carbon alloyed cut plates finished second in steel imports at 45'000 metric tons, down 5'000 metric tons from January. The US alone accounted for 40'453 metric tons of the imports. Russia contributed 3'458 metric tons. Total cold rolled sheets came in at 33'300 metric tons, or nearly CA$41.5 million (US$33.4 million). Imports of cold rolled sheets were down nearly 9'000 metric tons from January.