According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of hot rolled bar totaled 67,613 mt in April 2019, up 6.7 percent from March but down 47.8 percent from April 2018 levels. By value, hot rolled bar imports totaled $66.4 million in April 2018, compared to $60.6 million in the previous month and $118.6 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most hot rolled bar from Canada in April, with 22,081 mt, compared to 25,366 mt in March and 45,580 mt in April 2018. Other top sources of imported hot rolled bar in April include Japan, with 20,074 mt; China, with 7,972 mt; Germany, with 4,203 mt; and France, with 3,419 mt.