According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of hot rolled sheets totaled 150,167 mt in February 2018, down 14.8 percent from January but up 48.2 percent from February 2017 levels. By value, HRC imports totaled $99.9 million in February 2018, compared to $112.9 million in the previous month and $60.7 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most HRC from Canada in February, with 71,824 mt, compared to 85,466 mt in January and 57,577 mt in February 2017. Other top sources of imported HRC in February include Japan, with 17,576 mt; Korea, with 15,693 mt; Mexico, with 12,022 mt; Germany, with 8,222 mt; and Serbia, with 7,957 mt.