According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip totaled 195,204 mt in May 2019, down 9.5 percent from April and down 16.5 percent from May 2018 levels. By value, HDG imports totaled $185.0 million in May 2019, compared to $205.2 million in the previous month and $229.0 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most HDG from Canada in May, with 67,996 mt, compared to 70,224 mt in April and 97,516 mt in May 2018. Other top sources of imported HDG in May include Brazil, with 18,761 mt; Korea, with 15,968 mt; Taiwan, with 11,427 mt; and South Africa, with 10,639 mt.