According to delayed final census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip totaled 246,498 mt in January 2019, up 38.6 percent from December and up 22.4 percent from January 2018 levels. By value, HDG imports totaled $238.9 million in January 2018, compared to $177.8 million in the previous month and $187.1 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most HDG from Canada in January, with 68,640 mt, compared to 61,755 mt in December and 83,970 mt in January 2018. Other top sources of imported HDG in January include Brazil, with 36,801 mt; Vietnam, with 24,740 mt; South Africa, with 22,336 mt; Mexico, with 16,744 mt; and Korea, with 14,581 mt.