According to final census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of light-shaped bar (merchant bar) totaled 11,785 mt in July 2023, up 14.9 percent from June but down 4.1 percent from July 2022 levels. By value, merchant bar imports totaled $11.4 million in July 2023, compared to $9.1 million in June and $15.5 million in July 2022.
The US imported the most merchant bar from Mexico in July, with 8,471 mt, compared to 5,906 mt in June and 6,271 mt in July 2022. Other top sources of imported merchant bar in July include Canada, with 4,429 mt.