According to final census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of light-shaped bar (merchant bar) totaled 14,863 mt in May 2023, down 0.1 percent from April but up 69.2 percent from May 2022 levels. By value, merchant bar imports totaled $12.2 million in May 2023, compared to $14.0 million in April and $17.6 million in May 2022.
The US imported the most merchant bar from Mexico in May, with 19,517 mt, compared to 9,181 mt in April and 3,871 mt in May 2022. Other top sources of imported merchant bar in May include Canada, with 3,697 mt.