Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported Tuesday that the US imported a total of 2,899,000 net tons (nt) of steel in March, including 2,163,000 net tons (nt) of finished steel (up 16 percent and 15 percent, respectively, versus February final data). Year-to-date total and finished steel imports are 8,024,000 and 6,193,000 nt, respectively, down 7 percent and 5 percent versus 2012. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2013 would be 32.1 and 24.8 million nt, down 4 percent, each, respectively compared to 2012. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 24 percent in March and is estimated at 23 percent year-to-date.
Key finished steel products with a significant import increase in March 2013 compared to February are oil country goods (up 70 percent); wire rods (up 64 percent); reinforcing bars (up 32 percent); standard pipe (up 29 percent); cut lengths plates (up 26 percent); hot rolled bars (up 17 percent) and line pipe (up 13 percent). Major products with significant year-to-date import increases as compared to the same period last year include sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 15 percent) and wire drawn (up 10 percent).
