According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip totaled 201,337 mt in January 2018, up 6.6 percent from December but down 28.7 percent from January 2017 levels. By value, HDG imports totaled $187.0 million in January 2018, compared to $171.8 million in the previous month and $230.8 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most HDG from Canada in January, with 83,970 mt, compared to 65,903 mt in December and 81,969 mt in January 2017. Other top sources of imported HDG in January include Turkey, with 22,121 mt; Taiwan, with 13,323 mt; South Africa, with 10,258 mt; Vietnam, with 9,255 mt; and Brazil, with 7,890 mt.