According to final census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of light-shaped bar (merchant bar) totaled 14,878 mt in April 2023, down 10.9 percent from March but up 9.8 percent from April 2022 levels. By value, merchant bar imports totaled $14.0 million in April 2023, compared to $16.2 million in March and $17.4 million in April 2022.
The US imported the most merchant bar from Mexico in April, with 9,181 mt, compared to 9,690 mt in March and 4,676 mt in April 2022. Other top sources of imported merchant bar in April include Canada, with 5,437 mt.