Washington, D.C. – Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 2,480,000 net tons (NT) of steel in June 2018, including 1,843,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 15.5% and 24.6%, respectively, vs. May final data). Year-to-date (YTD) through six months of 2018, total and finished steel imports are 17,869,000 and 13,999,000 net tons (NT), down 9.3% and 7.1%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2017. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2018 would be 35.7 and 28.0 million NT, down 6.3% and 5.3%, respectively, vs. 2017. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 22% in June and is estimated at 25% YTD.

A key finished steel product with a significant import increase in June compared to May was sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 11%). Major products with significant year-to-date (YTD) increases vs. the same period in 2017 include hot rolled sheets (up 24%), plates in coils (up 21%), line pipe (up 14%) and mechanical tubing (up 11%).