According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of hot rolled sheets totaled 206,659 mt in May 2018, down 12.4 percent from April but up 29.3 percent from May 2017 levels. By value, HRC imports totaled $161.8 million in May 2018, compared to $165.1 million in the previous month and $105.5 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most HRC from Canada in May, with 123,533 mt, compared to 121,755 mt in April and 77,667 mt in May 2017. Other top sources of imported HRC in May include Mexico, with 25,030 mt; Japan, with 17,048 mt; Netherlands, with 12,065 mt; Belgium, with 5,566 mt; and South Africa, with 5,482 mt.