The volume of steel imported by the US in August dropped 13.8 percent in August from July, falling to their lowest monthly figure to-date in 2009, based on preliminary reporting by the US Commerce Department.
Total steel imports in August 2009 were 854,000 net tons compared to 991,000 nt in July 2009, a 13.8 percent decrease, and a 66.5 percent decrease compared to August 2008. According to year-to-date figures, imports decreased 51 percent compared to 2008.
The data show that imported semi-finished products decreased by 86.2 percent in August 2009 as compared to August 2008. For the year-to-date period, semi-finished imports decreased from 4.4 million nt in 2008 to 736,000 nt in 2009, an 83.4 percent decrease, based on preliminary reporting.
David Phelps, the president of the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS) commented on the data: “Import arrivals declined in August due to weak market conditions in the period three-to-five months prior for non-NAFTA imports.”
“With the large decline in arrivals from Mexico and small decline from Canada, it is clear that August also was not a strong month for the US market. We remain hopeful that conditions will improve as we move into the 4th quarter,” concluded Phelps.