[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 2,018,000 net tons (NT) of steel in November 2023, including 1,487,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 8.1% and up 19.7%, respectively, vs. October 2023). Total and finished steel imports are down 9.0% and 14.2%, respectively, year-to-date vs. 2022. Over the 12-month period December 2022 to November 2023, total and finished steel imports are down 10.3% and 14.5%, respectively, vs. the prior 12-month period. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 19% in November and is estimated at 21% over the first eleven months of 2023.

 

Key steel products with a significant import increase in November compared to October are sheet and strip all other metallic coatings (up 55%) and ingots, billets and slabs (up 54%). Products with a significant increase in imports over the 12-month period December 2022 to November 2023 compared to the previous 12-month period include cut lengths plates (up 13%).

 

In November, the largest suppliers were Canada (534,000 NT, down 4% vs. October), Brazil (380,000 NT, up 266%), Mexico (248,000 NT, down 20%), South Korea (141,000 NT, down 16%) and Japan (86,000 NT, down 36%). Over the 12-month period December 2022 to November 2023, the largest suppliers were Canada (6,868,000 NT, unchanged compared to the previous 12-months), Mexico (4,308,000 NT, down 21%), Brazil (3,656,000 NT, up 32%), South Korea (2,600,000 NT, down 8%) and Japan (1,229,000 NT, up 1%).