According to final census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of light-shaped bar (merchant bar) totaled 12,519 mt in April 2021, down 34.1 percent from March but up 42.9 percent from April 2020 levels. By value, merchant bar imports totaled $9.7 million in April 2021, compared to $12.1 million in March and $6.2 million in April 2020.
The US imported the most merchant bar from Mexico in April, with 6,398 mt, compared to 13,565 mt in March and 4,606 mt in April 2020. Other top sources of imported merchant bar in April include Canada, with 5,770 mt.