Steel Imports Up 0.8% Year-To-Date Through April

Finished Import Market Share YTD at 18%

Washington, D.C. – Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 2,634,000 net tons (NT) of steel in April 2021, including 1,654,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (up 14.1% and down 7.6%, respectively, vs. March final data). Through the first four months of 2021, total and finished steel imports are 9,263,000 and 6,117,000 net tons (NT), up 0.8% and 5.1%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2020. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2021 would be 27.8 and 18.4 million NT, up 26.2% and 13.7%, respectively, vs. 2020. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 18% in April and is estimated at 18% over the first four months of 2021.

Key finished steel products with a significant increase in imports in April compared to March are heavy structural shapes (up 72%), plates in coils (up 35%), cut lengths plates (up 27%), hot rolled sheets (up 19%) and standard pipe (up 11%). Products with a significant year-to-date (YTD) increase vs. the same period in 2020 were cut lengths plates (up 37%), hot rolled sheets (up 32%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 28%), plates in coils (up 19%), wire drawn (up 12%) and reinforcing bars (up 12%).

In April, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (263,000 NT, up 10% from March final), Japan (88,000 NT, up 3%), Turkey (63,000 NT, up 49%), Germany (47,000 NT, down 42%) and Vietnam (46,000 NT, up 4%). For the first four months of 2021, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (864,000 NT, up 22% vs. the same period in 2020), Japan (306,000 NT, up 13%), Turkey (264,000 NT, up 27%), Germany (218,000 NT, down 7%) and Taiwan (189,000 NT, up 2%). Below are charts on estimated steel import market share in recent months and on finished steel imports from offshore by country.

Click here for the full statistical report.

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Contact: Lisa Harrison

202.452.7115 / lharrison@steel.org

AISI serves as the voice of the American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI’s membership is comprised of integrated and electric arc furnace steelmakers, and associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook or Twitter (@AISISteel).