U.S. Steel Imports Rise 6.6% in March, Finished Steel Share Hits 16%
The estimated finished steel import market share was 16% in March and 15% year-to-date.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) has released its latest Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data for March 2026, highlighting a rebound in U.S. steel import permit applications. Total permit volumes reached 1.77 million net tons, reflecting a 6.6% increase from February and a 5.5% rise compared to the previous month’s final import figures.
Finished steel imports recorded a stronger gain, climbing 10.8% month-on-month to 1.31 million net tons. However, despite this short-term growth, first-quarter totals remained significantly below 2025 levels. Combined imports for the first three months of 2026 stood at 5.10 million net tons, while finished steel imports totalled 3.75 million net tons, representing declines of 34.7% and 34.9%, respectively. The estimated finished steel import market share was 16% in March and 15% year-to-date.
Key product categories driving the monthly increase included plates in coils, cut length plates, hot rolled sheets, and wire drawn products. Heavy structural shapes also saw notable gains, while tin-free steel posted a year-to-date rise.
Among suppliers, South Korea, Brazil, and Canada led import volumes, with Vietnam recording the sharpest monthly increase in shipments.
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