According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US imports of tool steel totaled 12,311 mt in April 2019, up 30.9 percent from March but down 16.1 percent from April 2018 levels. By value, tool steel imports totaled $36.1 million in April 2018, compared to $27.4 million in the previous month and $34.4 million in the same month last year.
The US imported the most tool steel from Japan in April, with 4,608 mt, compared to 3,597 mt in March and 4,063 mt in April 2018. Other top sources of imported tool steel in April include Brazil, with 1,770 mt; Germany, with 1,129 mt; Sweden, with 1,104 mt; and China, with 1,054 mt.