According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US monthly steel imports in July 2018 increased 19.5 percent from June (census data) to total 2,702,010 mt. A year-on-year comparison shows a 14.5 percent decrease. In terms of value, US steel imports in July totaled $2.56 billion, compared to $2.19 billion in June and $2.69 billion in July 2017.
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), the US steel import market share in July is estimated at 23 percent; year-to-date import market share is estimated at 25 percent.
Top sources for US steel imports in July include: Brazil, with 456,792 mt; Canada, with 416,419 mt; Mexico, with 283,282 mt; Korea, with 171,731 mt; and Russia, with 148,131 mt.
Major steel products imported in July include blooms, billets and slab at a combined 714,490 mt; HDG sheets and strip, at 232,713 mt; HRC, at 220,069 mt; OCTG, at 195,167 mt; line pipe, at 170,565 mt; and CRC, at 150,455 mt.