The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported Wednesday that based on preliminary data from the US Census Bureau, US steel imports increased by 23 percent in January from December to 2.55 million net tons (nt). Finished steel imports also surged by 31 percent to 2.06 million nt from December to January. Finished steel import market share in January was an estimated 23 percent--one percentage point up from full-year 2011 and four points up from December.
Imports of a few finished steel products registered double-digit increases from December to January-line pipe surged up by 60 percent, cold rolled sheet jumped up by 59 percent, reinforcing bars climbed 58 percent and cut length plates and standard pipe both increased by 42 percent.
Additionally, in January versus December, the largest offshore suppliers of finished steel were South Korea (314,000 nt and up 55 percent); Turkey (142,000 nt and up 71 percent); Japan (128,000 nt and up 0.2 percent); Germany (107,000 nt and up 25 percent) and China (100,000 nt and up 15 percent).