[Ferro-Alloys.com]Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,672,000 net tons (NT) of steel in July 2022, including 2,274,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 5.7% and up 2.1%, respectively, vs. June 2022). Total and finished steel imports are up 10.4% and 31.8%, respectively, year-to-date vs. 2021. Over the 12-month period August 2021 to July 2022, total and finished steel imports are up 35.7% and 47.1%, respectively, vs. the prior 12-month period. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 25% in July and is estimated at 25% over the first seven months of 2022.

 

Key steel products with a significant import increase in July compared to June are wire rods (up 94%), reinforcing bars (up 42%), cut length plates (up 22%) and oil country goods (up 21%). Products with a significant increase in imports over the 12-month period August 2021 to July 2022 compared to the previous 12-month period include oil country goods (up 111%), wire rods (up 92%), plates in coils (up 63%), cold rolled sheets (up 61%) and heavy structural shapes (up 53%).

 

In July, the largest suppliers were Canada (544,000 NT, down 14% vs. June), Mexico (460,000 NT, down 12%), South Korea (279,000 NT, down 7%), Brazil (252,000 NT, up 26%) and Japan (173,000 NT, up 76%). Over the 12-month period August 2021 to July 2022, the largest suppliers were Canada (7,010,000 NT, up 12% compared to the previous 12-months), Mexico (5,692,000 NT, up 53%), Brazil (3,144,000 NT, down 3%), South Korea (2,886,000 NT, up 23%) and Vietnam (1,262,000 NT, up 179%). AISI