According to final census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of light-shaped bar (merchant bar) totaled 10,259 mt in June 2023, down 30.9 percent from May and down 37.9 percent from June 2022 levels. By value, merchant bar imports totaled $9.2 million in June 2023, compared to $12.2 million in May and $20.7 million in June 2022.
The US imported the most merchant bar from Mexico in June, with 6,226 mt, compared to 10,517 mt in May and 6,271 mt in June 2022. Other top sources of imported merchant bar in June include Canada, with 6,314 mt.