The US's Stainless Steel Import Penetration Rose in The First 10 Months of 2012

According to data released by the Specialty Steel Industry of North America, the US's stainless steel import penetration rose in the first 10 months of 2012. In the first 10 months of 2012, the country's imports of stainless steel strops and sheets totaled 390,344 short tons, rising by 13.3% and the consumption increased by 7.7% to 1.43 million short tons, making the import penetration increased by 1.3 percent points to 27.2%. The imports of stainless steel medium heavy plates were at 183,133 short tons, rising by 31.8% and the consumption rose by 23.4% to 363,348 short tons, making the import penetration increase by 3.2 percent points to 50.4%. The imports of stainless steel bars rose by 5.1% to 125,325 short tons and the consumption was up by 0.7% to 220,001 short tons, making the import penetration raise by 2.4 percent points to 57%. The imports of stainless steel jumped by 16.6% to 26,638 short tons and the consumption increased by 3.5% to 62,767 short tons, bringing the import penetration to increase by 4.7 percent points to 42.4%.