Steel Imports’ Market Share Drops in February
WASHINGTON -- Preliminary Census Bureau data show that in Februdry the United States imported 2,441,000 net tons of steel, including 1,819,000 net tons of finished steel. The figures are down 7% and 15%, respectively, compared with year-ago final totals.
Year-to-date net tons and finished steel imports are 5,058,000 and 3,963,000 net tons, respectively, down 9% and 8% versus 2012, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute.
Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2013 would be 30.3 million and 23.8 million net tons, down 9% and 8%, each, respectively versus 2012. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 22% in February and is estimated at 23% year-to-date.
Key finished steel products with a significant tons import increase in February 2013 compared to January are cut lengths plates (up 44%) and plates in coils (up 24%). Major products with significant tons YTD import increases versus the same period last year include sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 22%), wire drawn (up 17%) and line pipe (up 11%).
In February, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were all from Asia and Europe. They were South Korea (249,000 net tons, down 31%), China (143,000 net tons, down 15%), Japan (126,000 net tons, down 10%), Turkey (114,000 net tons, down 15%) and Germany (100,000 net tons, up 36%).
For the first two months of this year, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (611,000 net tons, down 7%), China (311,000 net tons, up 65%), Japan (265,000 net tons, down 14%), Turkey (249,000 net tons, down 29%) and Germany (173,000 net tons, down 4%).
The American Iron and Steel Institute isa trade association composed of 25 companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers and 124 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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