Washington, D.C. – Based on final Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 2,385,000 net tons (NT) of steel in November 2018, including 1,921,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 27.2% and 4.1%, respectively, vs. October final data). Through the first 11 months of 2018, total and finished steel imports are 31,834,000 and 24,016,000 net tons (NT), down 10.8% and 13.2%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2017. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2018 would be 34.7 and 26.2 million NT, down 8.9% and 11.4%, respectively, vs. 2017. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 21% in November and is estimated at 23% over the first 11 months of 2018.

Key finished steel products with a significant import increase in November compared to October were heavy structural shapes (up 67%), wire rods (up 57%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 24%), and mechanical tubing (up 12%). Major products with significant year-to-date (YTD) increases vs. the same period in 2017 include hot rolled sheets (up 22%) and plates in coils (up 16%).

• [Editor:gaoyidan]