According to final census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of light shaped bars (merchant bar) totaled 5,767 mt in September 2019, down 38.7 percent from August and down 48.7 percent from September 2018 levels. By value, merchant bar imports totaled $4.0 million in September 2019, compared to $6.5 million in the previous month and $7.9 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most merchant bar from Mexico in September, with 2,896 mt, compared to 5,197 mt in August and 7,122 mt in September 2018. Other top sources of imported tool steel in September include Canada, with 2,614 mt.