According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of hot rolled sheets totaled 179,645 mt in August 2018, down 18.9 percent from July but up 11.6 percent from August 2017 levels. By value, HRC imports totaled $144.7 million in August 2018, compared to $172.7 million in the previous month and $102.4 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most HRC from Canada in August, with 90,990 mt, compared to 68,744 mt in July and 75,940 mt in August 2017. Other top sources of imported HRC in August include Korea, with 22,622 mt; Japan, with 17,209 mt; Mexico, with 16,448 mt; Italy, with 7,337 mt; and Serbia, with 6,187 mt.