Steel Imports Up in January 2025 vs. December 2024

 Finished Import Market Share YTD at 25%

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 3,065,000 net tons (NT) of steel in January 2025, including 2,305,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (up 43.5% and 26.5%, respectively, vs. December 2024). Total and finished steel imports are up 20.2% and 20.3%, respectively, vs. January 2024. Over the 12-month period February 2024 to January 2025, total and finished steel imports are up 4.5% and 5.9%, respectively, vs. the prior 12-month period. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 25% in January 2025.

Key steel products with a significant import increase in January compared to December are heavy structural shapes (up 199%), reinforcing bars (up 191%), blooms, billets and slabs (up 143%), oil country goods (up 121%) and line pipe (up 84%). Products with a significant increase in imports over the 12-month period February 2024 to January 2025 compared to the previous 12-month period include tin plate (up 45%), sheets and strip all other metallic coated (up 40%), sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 35%), cold rolled sheets (up 27%) and wire rods (22%).

In January, the largest suppliers were Canada (649,000 NT, up 25% vs. December), Brazil (585,000 NT, up 414%), Mexico (470,000 NT, up 44%), South Korea (326,000 NT, up 56%) and Japan (97,000 NT, up 29%). Over the 12-month period February 2024 to January 2025, the largest suppliers were Canada (6,579,000 NT, down 5% vs, compared to the previous 12-months), Brazil (4,615,000 NT, up 15%), Mexico (3,591,000 NT, down 13%), South Korea (2,940,000 NT, up 9%) and Vietnam (1,333,000 NT, up 119%). 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, steel pipe and tube manufacturers, and steel processors and fabricators reflecting the production and distribution of both carbon and stainless steels which are critical to the everyday lives of all Americans — including national security, roads and bridges, buildings, 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.