According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US monthly steel imports in May 2018 decreased 23.1 percent from April (census data) to total 2,618,688 mt. A year-on-year comparison shows a 13.9 percent decrease. In terms of value, US steel imports in May totaled $2.68 billion, compared to $3.12 billion in April and $2.50 billion in May 2017.
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), the US steel import market share in May is estimated at 25 percent; year-to-date import market share is estimated at 26 percent.
Top sources for US steel imports in May include: Canada, with 644,066 mt; Mexico, with 329,723 mt; Brazil, with 265,650 mt; Japan, with 147,291 mt; and Germany, with 134,241 mt.
Major steel products imported in May include blooms, billets and slab at a combined 409,471 mt; OCTG, at 238,242 mt; HDG sheets and strip, at 233,698 mt; HRC, at 206,659 mt; and CRC, at 161,895 mt; and rebar, at 149,301 mt.