According to delayed final census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of hot rolled bar totaled 98,805 mt in November 2018, up 10.7 percent from October but down 15.9 percent from November 2017 levels. By value, hot rolled bar imports totaled $92.7 million in November 2018, compared to $83.7 million in the previous month and $108.7 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most hot rolled bar from Canada in November, with 31,131 mt, compared to 30,186 mt in October and 43,465 mt in November 2017. Other top sources of imported hot rolled bar in November include China, with 23,022 mt; France, with 15,182 mt; Japan, with 13,714 mt; Germany, with 5,857 mt; and Mexico, with 2,947 mt.