[Ferro-Alloys.com] Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 1,792,000 net tons (NT) of steel in May 2020, including 1,486,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 35.5% and up 13.2%, respectively, vs. April final data). Through the first five months of 2020, total and finished steel imports are 10,981,000 and 7,308,000 net tons (NT), down 19.2% and 26.7%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2019. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2020 would be 26.4 and 17.5 million NT, down 5.7% and 16.7%, respectively, vs. 2019. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 23% in May and is estimated at 18% over the first five months of 2020.

 

Key finished steel products with a significant increase in imports in May compared to April are oil country goods (up 71%), standard pipe (up 44%), heavy structural shapes (up 37%), tin plate (up 31%), hot rolled bars (up 28%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 18%), mechanical tubing (up 17%) and line pipe (up 15%).

 

Source: AISI