According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip totaled 142,977 mt in December 2019, down 2.3 percent from November and down 19.6 percent from December 2018 levels. By value, HDG imports totaled $135.4 million in December 2019, compared to $136.0 million in the previous month and $177.8 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most HDG from Canada in December, with 72,142 mt, compared to 67,518 mt in November and 61,755 mt in December 2018. Other top sources of imported HDG in December include Mexico, with 10,042 mt; South Africa, with 9,786 mt; Brazil, with 8,054 mt; and Taiwan, with 7,183 mt.