Based on the US Department of Commerce's most recent Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that steel import permit applications for the month of December totaled 2,009,000 net tons (nt), representing a 10 percent decline from the November preliminary import total.
For the full year, (including December SIMA and November preliminary), total and finished steel imports were 31,703,000 nt and 25,739,000 nt, down five and three percent, respectively, from the amounts imported in 2007.
Year over year, the only two steel products which saw increased imports in 2008 were OCTG, up 103 percent, and hot rolled bars, up 12 percent.