Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported that the US imported a total of 2,634,000 net tons of steel in April 2021, including 1,654,000 net tons of finished steel (up 14.1% and down 7.6%, respectively, vs. March final data). Through the first four months of 2021, total and finished steel imports are 9,263,000 net tons and 6,117,000 net tons, up 0.8% and 5.1%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2020. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2021 would be 27.8 and 18.4 million net tons, up 26.2% and 13.7%, respectively, vs. 2020. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 18% in April and is estimated at 18% over the first four months of 2021. Key finished steel products with a significant increase in imports in April compared to March are heavy structural shapes (up 72%), plates in coils (up 35%), cut lengths plates (up 27%), hot rolled sheets (up 19%) and standard pipe (up 11%). Products with a significant year-to-date (YTD) increase vs. the same period in 2020 were cut lengths plates (up 37%), hot rolled sheets (up 32%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 28%), plates in coils (up 19%), wire drawn (up 12%) and reinforcing bars (up 12%). In April, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (263,000 NT, up 10% from March final), Japan (88,000 NT, up 3%), Turkey (63,000 NT, up 49%), Germany (47,000 NT, down 42%) and Vietnam (46,000 NT, up 4%). For the first four months of 2021, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (864,000 NT, up 22% vs. the same period in 2020), Japan (306,000 NT, up 13%), Turkey (264,000 NT, up 27%), Germany (218,000 NT, down 7%) and Taiwan (189,000 NT, up 2%). Below are charts on estimated steel import market share in recent months and on finished steel imports from offshore by country.
Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported that the US imported a total of 2,634,000 net tons of steel in April 2021, including 1,654,000 net tons of finished steel (up 14.1% and down 7.6%, respectively, vs. March final data). Through the first four months of 2021, total and finished steel imports are 9,263,000 net tons and 6,117,000 net tons, up 0.8% and 5.1%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2020. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2021 would be 27.8 and 18.4 million net tons, up 26.2% and 13.7%, respectively, vs. 2020. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 18% in April and is estimated at 18% over the first four months of 2021. Key finished steel products with a significant increase in imports in April compared to March are heavy structural shapes (up 72%), plates in coils (up 35%), cut lengths plates (up 27%), hot rolled sheets (up 19%) and standard pipe (up 11%). Products with a significant year-to-date (YTD) increase vs. the same period in 2020 were cut lengths plates (up 37%), hot rolled sheets (up 32%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 28%), plates in coils (up 19%), wire drawn (up 12%) and reinforcing bars (up 12%). In April, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (263,000 NT, up 10% from March final), Japan (88,000 NT, up 3%), Turkey (63,000 NT, up 49%), Germany (47,000 NT, down 42%) and Vietnam (46,000 NT, up 4%). For the first four months of 2021, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (864,000 NT, up 22% vs. the same period in 2020), Japan (306,000 NT, up 13%), Turkey (264,000 NT, up 27%), Germany (218,000 NT, down 7%) and Taiwan (189,000 NT, up 2%). Below are charts on estimated steel import market share in recent months and on finished steel imports from offshore by country.
