Steel Imports Up 2.5% in 2024

Finished Import Market Share at 23%

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 2,123,000 net tons (NT) of steel in December 2024, including 1,820,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (up 2.7% and 14.3%, respectively, vs. November 2024). Full year 2024 total and finished steel imports were 28,858,000 and 22,500,000 net tons (NT), up 2.5% and 3.7%, respectively, vs. 2023. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 21% in December and is estimated at 23% for full year 2024.

Key steel products with a significant import increase in December compared to November are hot rolled sheets (up 67%), tin plate (up 61%), plates in coils (up 48%), wire rods (42%) and standard pipe (up 41%). Products with a significant increase in imports for the full year of 2024 vs. 2023 include sheets and strip all other metallic coated (up 52%), sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 36%), tin plate (up 32%), cold rolled sheets (up 26%) and wire rods (up 19%).

In December, the largest suppliers were Canada (521,000 NT, up 10% from November), Mexico (327,000 NT, up 16%), South Korea (208,000 NT, up 17%), Brazil (114,000 NT, down 63%), and Vietnam (109,000 NT, down 9%). For full year 2024 the largest suppliers were Canada (6,557,000 NT, down 5% vs. 2023), Brazil (4,498,000 NT, up 14%), Mexico (3,517,000 NT, down 16%), South Korea (2,809,000 NT, up 7%) and Vietnam (1,363,000 NT, up 143%). Below are charts on steel imports by country and estimated finished steel import market share in recent months.

Read the full statistical report here.

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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’s membership is comprised of integrated and electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers reflecting the production of both carbon and stainless steels which are critical to the everyday lives of all Americans — including national security, roads and bridges, the electrical grid, clean energy technologies and the automotive market. AISI also represents 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, LinkedIn, Twitter (@AISISteel) or Instagram.