[Ferro-Alloys.com] Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 2,773,000 net tons (NT) of steel in April 2020, including 1,309,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (up 58.2% and down 13.5%, respectively, vs. March final data). Through the first four months of 2020, total and finished steel imports are 9,185,000 and 5,819,000 net tons (NT), down 20.3% and 28.2%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2019. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2020 would be 27.6 and 17.5 million NT, down 1.4% and 17.1%, respectively, vs. 2019. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 21% in April and is estimated at 18% over the first four months of 2020.

 

Key finished steel products with a significant increase in imports in April compared to March are heavy structural shapes (up 57%), reinforcing bars (up 54%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 31%) and tin plate (up 14%).

 

Source: AISI