The USA imported a total of 2.48Mt (net tons) of steel in June, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. The figure includes 1.84Mt (net tons) of finished steel and is down 15.5% and 24.6% when compared with May final data.
The year-to-date figure for the first six months of 2018 of 17.8Mt (net tons) and 13.9Mt (net tons) respectively for total and finished steel imports, were both down 9.3% and 7.1% versus the same period in 2017.
The annualised total and finished steel imports in 2018 would be 35.7Mt and 28Mt (net tons), down 6.3% and 5.3% respectively when compared with 2017 figures.
The finished steel market share for June was estimated at 22% and year-to-date is 25%.
Imports of 'sheets and strip all other metallic coatings' were up 11% in June compared to May, and other major products with 'significant year-to-date increases versus the same period in 2017 were: hot rolled sheets (up 24%); plates in coils (up 21%); line pipe (up 14%) and mechanical tubing (up 11%).
The largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore came from South Korea (208kt, up 89% from May final); Japan (129kt, up 7%); Vietnam (120kt, up 61%); Germany (111kt, up 21%) and Taiwan (93kt, up 20%).
For the first six months of 2018, the largest offshore suppliers were: South Korea (1.74Mt, down 10%); Japan (741kt, down 7%); Germany (660kt, up 10%); Turkey (647kt, down 56%); and Taiwan (560kt, down 16%).
