Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,513,000 net tons (NT) of steel in May 2021, including 1,845,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 4.8% and up 11.3%, respectively, vs. April final data). Through the first five months of 2021, total and finished steel imports are 11,780,000 and 7,966,000 net tons (NT), up 7.1% and 8.8%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2020. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2021 would be 28.3 and 19.1 million NT, up 28.4% and 18.5%, respectively, vs. 2020. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 20% in May and is estimated at 19% over the first five months of 2021.

 

Key finished steel products with a significant increase in imports in May compared to April are tin plate (up 240%), wire rods (up 57%), sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 24%) and cold rolled sheets (up 47%). Products with a significant year-to-date (YTD) increase vs. the same period in 2020 were hot rolled sheets (up 42%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 30%), cut lengths plates (up 30%), plates in coils (up 28%), tin plate (up 17%), wire drawn (up 16%) and sheets and strip galvanized hot dipped (up 12%).