Figures released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) the USA imported a total of 2.5Mt (net tons) of steel during January 2016, including 2.2Mt (net tons) of finished steel – up 10% and 8.8% respectively on December figures.

Year-to-date and finished steel imports were 2.5Mt and 2.2Mt (net tons) respectively, down 41% and 38% respectively versus 2015. The market share of imported finished steel in January this year was 26%.

Oil country tubular goods (OCTG) imports were up 107%, standard pipe was up 68%, hot-rolled sheet 53%, line pipe 47% and structural pipe and tubing was up 43%. Plates in coils were up 25% and wire drawn up 12% claims the AISI.

Turkey exported the largest volume of finished steel to the USA (244kt – up 34%) followed by South Korea (241kt – up 2%); Japan (188kt – up 31%); Brazil (154kt – up 124%) and Germany (12Kt – down 1%).