U.S. Steel Import Permits Climb 10.1% in July, AISI Data Shows
Monthly import permits rose across finished steel products in July, even as cumulative volumes for the year remained sharply below 2025 levels, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute.
What Readers Should Know
- July steel import permits totaled 2.294 million net tons, up 10.1% from June.
- Finished steel import permits rose to 1.594 million net tons, an 8.6% monthly increase.
- Finished steel held an 18% share of the U.S. market in July and 16% year-to-date.
- Mexico's July permits jumped 71% month over month, while South Korea remained the top overall supplier.
- January–July total imports fell 19.4% year over year to 13.585 million net tons.
MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): U.S. steel imports gained momentum in July, according to the latest Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). Import permits reached 2.294 million net tons (NT) during the month, up 10.1% from June permit volumes and 9.1% above June's final import figure of 2.103 million NT.
Finished Steel Imports Also Increased
Finished steel imports rose alongside the overall total in July. Monthly permits for finished products reached 1.594 million NT, compared with 1.468 million NT in June's final imports — an increase of 8.6%.
Despite the monthly gain, finished steel import volumes remained below last year's levels.
Finished Steel's Share of the Market
Finished steel accounted for an estimated 18% of the U.S. market in July. On a year-to-date basis, that share stood at 16%.
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Year-to-Date Imports Remain Well Below 2025
During the first seven months of 2026, total steel imports stood at 13.585 million NT, down 19.4% year over year. Finished steel imports over the same period fell 21.8% to 9.766 million NT.
Which Products and Countries Drove the Change
Among individual products, oil country goods, wire rod and standard pipe recorded the strongest monthly gains in July.
South Korea continued to hold its position as the leading supplier to the U.S. market. Mexico posted a notable 71% increase in July permits compared with the prior month, AISI data showed.
Top Suppliers for the January–July Period
Over the seven-month period from January through July, South Korea supplied 2.508 million NT, followed by Canada at 1.850 million NT and Brazil at 1.686 million NT.
People Also Ask
What were U.S. steel import permits in July 2026?
Import permits totaled 2.294 million net tons in July, up 10.1% from June.
How much did finished steel import permits increase in July?
Finished steel permits rose to 1.594 million net tons, up 8.6% from June's final imports of 1.468 million net tons.
What share of the U.S. market did finished steel imports hold?
Finished steel accounted for an estimated 18% of the U.S. market in July and 16% year-to-date.
Which country led U.S. steel import permits in July?
South Korea remained the leading supplier, while Mexico posted a 71% monthly increase in permits.
How do year-to-date steel imports compare with 2025?
Total imports for January–July 2026 fell 19.4% year over year to 13.585 million net tons, with finished steel imports down 21.8% to 9.766 million net tons.