Finished Import Market Share at 20 Percent in February 2019

Washington, D.C. – Based on final Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 2,433,000 net tons (NT) of steel in February 2019, including 1,744,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 30.1% and 28.8%, respectively, vs. January final data).  Through the first two months of 2019, total and finished steel imports are 5,912,000 and 4,194,000 net tons (NT), up 10.2% and down 3.6%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2018.  Finished steel import market share was an estimated 20% in February and is estimated at 22% over the first two months of 2019.

Major products with significant year-to-date (YTD) increases vs. the same period in 2018 include reinforcing bars (up 73%), line pipe (up 58%) and cut lengths plates (up 18%).

In February, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (187,000 NT, down 48% from January final), Japan (124,000 NT, up 17%), Germany (81,000 NT, down 40%), Italy (75,000 NT, up 8%) and Taiwan (72,000 NT, down 28%).  For the first two months of 2019, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (548,000 NT, down 13% vs. the same period in 2018), Japan (230,000 NT, down 4%), Germany (215,000 NT, no change), Taiwan (173,000 NT, down 12%) and Brazil (151,000 NT, down 1%).  Below are charts on estimated steel import market share in recent months and on finished steel imports from offshore by country.