US import of specialty steel drops by 1%

US import of specialty steel drops by 1%

Based on the data released from Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA), imports of total specialty steel products in US amounted to 610'898 tons in the first eleven months of 2003 with an 1% decrease compared to the same period of 2002. Moreover, US specialty steel consumption also dropped by 2% to 2.4 million tons in the same period. Imports and US consumption of stainless steel, the industry's largest product line, have decreased. Imports have decreased by 7% to 454'349 tons while domestic consumption dropped by 2% to 1.95 million tons. US imported 279'781 tons of stainless strip in January-November 2003 period, with an increase of 2%. Stainless strip consumption decreased by 2% to 1.44 million tons. Imports of stainless steel plate were down by 13% to 47'109 tons while the consumption of product amounted to 260'788 tons, up by 11%. Imports of stainless rod and stainless steel bar decreased by 39% and 18% to 33'111 tons and 63'294 tons respectively.