According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of hot rolled sheets totaled 145,076 mt in April 2019, up 16.1 percent from March but down 38.5 percent from April 2018 levels. By value, HRC imports totaled $96.0 million in April 2018, compared to $88.0 million in the previous month and $165.1 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most HRC from Canada in April, with 49,426 mt, compared to 56,877 mt in March and 121,755 mt in April 2018. Other top sources of imported HRC in April include Japan, with 35,593 mt; Korea, with 32,388 mt; Netherlands, with 6,711 mt; and Mexico, with 5,390 mt.