US specialty steel import growth outpaces consumption
US imports of specialty steel and
stainless steel increased year-on-year during the January-November 2004 period, according to statistics provided by the Specialty Steel Industry of
North America (SSINA).
The data show that total
stainless steel imports increased 32% to 600'392 tons. Imports of total specialty steel (including
stainless steel, alloy tool steel, and electrical steel) increased 25% year-on-year to 765'763 tons. On the other hand, US
consumption increased only 13% to 2'199'729 tons.
The specialty steel product with the largest import growth was
stainless sheet/strip, which expanded 37% to 382'680 tons. At the same time,
stainless sheet/strip also experienced the greatest spike in
consumption, climbing 15% year-on-year to 1'653'727 tons.