[Ferro-Alloys.com]

 

Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,185,000 net tons (NT) of steel in September 2023, including 1,579,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 4.1% and 15.1%, respectively, vs. August 2023). Total and finished steel imports are down 9.8% and 15.0%, respectively, year-to-date vs. 2022. Over the 12-month period from October 2022 to September 2023, total and finished steel imports are down 12.4% and 15.4%, respectively, vs. the prior 12-month period. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 20% in September and is estimated at 22% over the first nine months of 2023.

 

Key steel products with a significant import increase in September compared to August are hot rolled sheets (up 49%) and ingots, billets and slabs (up 45%). Products with a significant increase in imports over the 12-month period from October 2022 to September 2023 compared to the previous 12-month period include line pipe (up 19%), oil country goods (up 16%) and cut lengths plates (up 16%).

 

In September, the largest suppliers were Canada (537,000 NT, down 2% vs. August), Brazil (452,000 NT, up 116%), Mexico (358,000 NT, down 2%), South Korea (331,000 NT, up 30%) and Japan (66,000 NT, down 30%). Over the 12-month period October 2022 to September 2023, the largest suppliers were Canada (6,865,000 NT, down 1% compared to the previous 12-months), Mexico (4,425,000 NT, down 22%), Brazil (3,519,000 NT, up 28%), South Korea (2,634,000 NT, down 10%) and Japan (1,217,000 NT, down 2%). AISI