US steel imports increase in July

US steel imports increase in July

According to the data released by US Commerce Department, US imported 1.82 million metric tons of steel in July 2003. This tonnage includes 1.34 million metric tons of finished steel with a 5.6% increase. The US imports dropped 34.8% from last year same month figures. However, steel imports increased by 17% from June's 1.6 million metric tons. The June to July change in steel imports due to increase seen in blooms, billets and slabs, basically from Brazil. The Jan-June 2003 final figures revealed that US imported 10.8 million metric tons of steel which was decreased by 2.7 million metric tons from the 13.5 million metric tons recorded in the same period last year. The largest commodity decreases were in blooms, billets, slabs and wire rods. Furthermore, the largest country decreases were in Brazil, Russia and Japan. According to the data, Turkey has exported 62'595 metric tons of finished steel products to the US in July. This quantity is 40% lower compared to the same period last year. Major import quantities of finished steel imports into US appear to be coming from Canada, EU, Mexico, Korea and China.