According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of hot rolled sheets totaled 219,647 mt in July 2017, up 5.9 percent from June but down 26.9 percent from July 2016 levels. By value, HRC imports totaled $133.2 million in July 2017, compared to $127.8 million in the previous month and $164.3 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most HRC from Canada in July, with 60,921 mt, compared to 64,168 mt in June and 74,273 mt in July 2016. Other top sources of imported HRC in July include Japan, with 28,733 mt; Turkey, with 26,782 mt; Korea, with 19,159 mt; Egypt, with 17,383 mt; and Mexico, with 17,112 mt.