According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US monthly steel imports in March 2023 increased 14.1 percent from February to total 2,372,638 mt. A year-on-year comparison shows a 15.5 percent decrease. In terms of value, US steel imports in March totaled $3.17 billion, compared to $2.82 billion in February and $3.93 billion in March 2022.
Top sources for US steel imports in March include: Canada, with 599,453 mt; Brazil, with 414,962 mt; Mexico, with 396,249 mt; South Korea, with 169,237 mt; and Japan, with 106,167 mt.
By product group, semi-finished imports totaled 626,612 mt in March, up from 474,909 mt in February and 522,643 mt in March 2022. Flat product imports totaled 798,561 mt in March, up from 657,164 mt in February but down from 1,131,025 mt in March 2022. Long product imports totaled 324,946 mt in March, down from 403,318 mt in February and 572,467 mt in March 2022. Pipe and tube imports totaled 546,758 mt in March, up from 471,787 mt in February and 469,538 mt in March 2022.
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), the US steel import market share in March 2023 was estimated at 22 percent, compared to 22 percent in February and 23 percent year-to-date.