According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US monthly steel imports in August 2023 decreased 4.0 percent from July to total 2,066,878 mt. A year-on-year comparison shows a 9.3 percent decrease. In terms of value, US steel imports in August totaled $2.79 billion, compared to $3.02 billion in July and $3.53 billion in August 2022.
Top sources for US steel imports in August include: Canada, with 496,285 mt; Mexico, with 330,734 mt; South Korea, with 230,530 mt; Brazil, with 189,801 mt; and Japan, with 85,775 mt.
By product group, semi-finished imports totaled 371,355 mt in August, down from 475,113 mt in July and 373,042 mt in August 2022. Flat product imports totaled 767,007 mt in August, up from 739,154 mt in July but down from 974,006 mt in August 2022. Long product imports totaled 457,402 mt in August, up from 450,408 mt in July and 429,574 mt in August 2022. Pipe and tube imports totaled 391,353 mt in August, down from 404,341 mt in July and 403,582 mt in August 2022.
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), the US steel import market share in August 2023 was estimated at 21 percent, compared to 21 percent in July and 22 percent year-to-date.