According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US monthly steel imports in July 2017 decreased 11.5 percent from June (census data) to total 3,149,399 mt. A year-on-year comparison shows a 6.3 percent increase. In terms of value, US steel imports in July totaled $2.68 billion, compared to $2.89 billion in June and $2.08 billion in July 2016.
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), the finished steel import market share was an estimated 29 percent in July and is estimated at 28 percent YTD.
Top sources for US steel imports in July include: Canada, with 422,192 mt; Russia, with 307,878 mt; Korea, with 306,078 mt; Mexico, with 294,911 mt; and Brazil, with 256,218 mt.
Major steel products imported in July include blooms, billets and slab at a combined 531,690 mt; OCTG, at 336,851 mt; HDG sheets and strip, at 291,736 mt; CRC, at 220,392 mt; HRC, at 219,647 mt; and line pipe, at 205,836 mt.