The Specialty Steel Industry of North America has released statistical data on imports, US consumption and import penetration for YTD March 2011. The data represents US consumption, imports, and import penetration for March 2011 compared to the same 2010 three month period.
The following data is presented by specialty steel product line, total stainless steel, and total specialty steel:
Stainless steel sheet/strip:
Imports in YTD March 2011 were 101,624 tons, a 29.1% increase compared to YTD March 2010: U.S. consumption was 450,356 tons, a 42.4% increase; three month import penetration was 22.6%, a 2.3 percentage point decrease from 2010.
Stainless steel plate:
Imports in YTD March 2011 were 43,322 tons, a 160.7% increase compared to YTD March 2010: U.S. consumption was 93,761 tons, a 58.3% increase; three month import penetration was 46.2%, a 18.1 percentage point increase from 2010.
Stainless steel bar:
Imports in YTD March 2011 were 34,966 tons, a 68.9% increase compared to YTD March 2010: U.S. consumption was 67,478 tons, a 47.3% increase; three month import penetration was 51.8%, a 6.6 percentage point increase from 2010.
Stainless steel rod:
Imports in YTD March 2011 were 7,005 tons, a 24.9% increase compared to YTD March 2010: U.S. consumption was 19,549 tons, a 37.0% increase; three month import penetration was 35.8%, a 3.5 percentage point decrease from 2010.
Stainless steel wire:
Imports in YTD March 2011 were 11,702 tons, a 14.0% increase compared to YTD March 2010; U.S. consumption was 14,116 tons, a 5.5% increase; three month import penetration was 82.9%, a 6.2 percentage point increase from 2010.
Imports of total stainless steel (comprising the foregoing product lines) in YTD March 2011 were 198,619 tons, a 50.6% increase compared to YTD March 2010; U.S. consumption was 645,260 tons, a 43.7% increase; three month import penetration was 30.8%, a 1.4 percentage point increase from 2010.
Alloy tool steel:
Imports in YTD March 2011 were 27,076 tons, a 96.3% increase compared to YTD March 2010; U.S. consumption and import penetration were not calculable.
Electrical steel:
Imports in YTD March 2011 were 29.856 tons, a 46.3% increase compared to YTD March 2010; U.S. consumption was 47,466 tons, a 14.5% decrease from YTD March 2010; three month import penetration was 62.9%, a 26.1 percentage point increase from 2010.
Imports of total specialty steel (comprising stainless steel, alloy tool steel and electrical steel) in YTD March 2011 were 255,551 tons, a 53.9% increase compared to YTD March 2010: U.S. consumption was 709,461 tons, a 38.4% increase; three month import penetration was 36.0%, a 3.6 percentage point increase from 2010.
