Despite President Donald Trump's bluster, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has reported that the US imported a total of 2.49Mt (net tons) of steel in March 2025, including 1.81Mt (net tons) of finished steel (up 11.4% and 11.9%, respectively, versus February 2025).
Total and finished steel imports are up 3.6% and 1.6%, respectively, year-to-date versus 2024. Over the 12-month period April 2024 to March 2025, total and finished steel imports are up 3.4% and 4.1%, respectively, versus the prior 12-month period. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 21% in March and is estimated at 22% over the first three months of 2025.
Key steel products with a significant import increase in March compared to February are reinforcing bars (up 86%), line pipe (up 48%), oil country goods (up 41%), sheets and strip all other metallic coated (up 40%) and cold rolled sheets (23%). Products with a significant increase in imports over the 12-month period April 2024 to March 2025 compared to the previous 12-month period include tin plate (up 67%), sheets and strip all other metallic coated (up 27%), wire rods (up 24%), cold rolled sheets (up 19%) and sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 19%).