The Specialty Steel Industry of North America has released statistical data on imports, US consumption and import penetration for April 2009. The data represents US consumption, imports, and import penetration for YTD April 2009 as compared to the same 2008 four month period. The following data is presented by specialty steel product line, total stainless steel, and total specialty steel:
1. Stainless steel sheet/strip: Imports in YTD April 2009 were 64,901 tons, a 62.7% YoY decrease compared to YTD April 2008; US consumption was 261,757 tons, a 49.4% YoY decrease; four month import penetration was 24.8%, an 8.8 percentage point decrease from 2008.
2. Stainless steel plate: Imports in YTD April 2009 were 12,370 tons, a 60.6% YoY decrease as compared to YTD April 2008; U. consumption was 52,003 tons, a 45.8% YoY decrease; four month import penetration was 23.8%, an 8.9 percentage point decrease from 2008.
3. Stainless steel bar: Imports in YTD April 2009 were 29,206 tons, a 30.1% YoY decrease as compared to YTD April 2008; US consumption was 55,807 tons, a 31.4% YoY decrease; four month import penetration was 52.3%, a 1 percentage point increase from 2008.
4. Stainless steel rod: Imports in YTD April 2009 were 4,082 tons, a 60.3% YoY decrease as compared to YTD April 2008; US consumption was 9,552 tons, a 54.2% YoY decrease; four month import penetration was 42.7%, a 6.5 percentage point decrease from 2008.
5. Stainless steel wire: Imports in YTD April 2009 were 9,669 tons, a 32.5% YoY decrease as compared to YTD April 2008; US consumption was 12,857 tons, a 48.1% YoY decrease; four month import penetration was 75.2%, a 17.3 percentage point increase from 2008.
6. Imports of total stainless steel comprising the foregoing product lines in YTD April 2009 were 120,228 tons, a 55.8% YoY decrease as compared to YTD April 2008; US consumption was 391,977 tons, a 47.1% YoY decrease; four month import penetration was 30.7%, a 6.0 percentage point decrease from 2008.
7. Alloy tool steel: Imports in YTD April 2009 were 15,779 tons, a 59% YoY decrease as compared to YTD April 2008; US consumption and import penetration were not calculable.
8. Electrical steel: Imports in YTD April 2009 were 33,896 tons, a 17.6% YoY decrease as compared to YTD April 2008; US consumption was 97,325 tons, a 26.6% YoY decrease from April 2008; four month import penetration was 34.8%, a 3.8 percentage point increase from 2008.
9. Imports of total specialty steel comprising stainless steel, alloy tool steel and electrical steel in YTD April 2009 were 169,903 tons, a 51.6% YoY decrease compared to YTD April 2008; US consumption was 501,263 tons, a 44.6% YoY decrease; four month import penetration was 33.9%, a 4.9 percentage point decrease from 2008.
