Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported by that the US imported a total of 2,540,000 net tons of steel in October, including 2,059,000 net tons of finished steel (down 2% and up 3%, respectively, from September final data). Year to date finished steel imports are up 18% vs. the same period in 2011. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2012 would be 33.9 and 26.3 million net tons up 19% and 21%, each, respectively vs. 2011. Finished steel import market share in October was an estimated 25% and is estimated at 24% YTD.
Key finished steel products with a significant import increase in October 2012 compared to September are heavy structural shapes (up 56%), tin plate (up 40%), line pipe (up 39%), reinforcing bars (up 27%), hot rolled bars (up 16%) and sheets and strip galvanized hot dipped (up 12%). Major products with significant YTD import increases vs. the same period last year include reinforcing bar (up 50%), line pipe (up 39%), sheets & strip galvanized hot dipped (up 36%) and oil country goods (up 29%).
October Preliminary Imports Decrease 2%; YTD Import Market Share at 24% / Page 2 In October, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were all from Asia and Europe. They were
South Korea (372,000 net tons up 16%)
Japan (179,000 net tons up 8%)
China (117,000 net tons up 14%)
Germany (103,000 net tons down 8%)
The Netherlands (71,000 net tons, up 85%)
For the first 10 months of 2012, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (3,181,000 net tons up 30%
Japan (1,697,000 net tons up 38%)
China (1,309,000 net tons up 23%)
Turkey (1,185,000 net tons, up 89%)
Germany (1,035,000 net tons up 29%)
Source:
http://www.steelguru.com/international_news/October_preliminary_US_steel_imports_decline_2_percent_MoM/293419.html
