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 2,978,000 net tons (NT) of steel in July 2018, including 2,179,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (up 19.4% and 17.5%, respectively, vs. June final data). Year-to-date (YTD) through seven months of 2018, total and finished steel imports are 20,862,000 and 16,190,000 net tons (NT), down 10.1% and 10.0%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2017. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2018 would be 35.8 and 27.8 million NT, down 6.2% and 6.1%, respectively, vs. 2017. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 23% in July and is estimated at 25% YTD.

Key finished steel products with a significant import increase in July compared to June were reinforcing bars (up 214%), heavy structural shapes (up 123%), tin plate (up 55%), hot rolled sheets (up 44%), cut lengths plates (up 31%), plates in coils (up 24%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 23%), line pipe (up 17%), cold rolled sheets (up 12%), and mechanical tubing (up 11%). Major products with significant year-to-date (YTD) increases vs. the same period in 2017 include plates in coils (up 20%) and hot rolled sheets (up 19%).