AISI Releases May SIMA Imports Data
Steel News | 2026-06-09 15:18:24
The estimated finished steel import market share in May was 17% and is 16% year-to-date (YTD).
By Paul Ploumis
- May 2026 steel import permit applications were 1.996 million NT, up 0.7% from April permits and 6.5% above April preliminary imports.
- Finished steel import permits in May were 1.495 million NT, 8.5% higher than April’s preliminary finished steel imports.
- Year-to-date total and finished steel imports fell 27.5% and 27.7%, respectively, versus the same period in 2025.
- Hot rolled sheet, tin free steel, plates in coils, wire rods and oil country goods showed the largest month-on-month permit increases.
- South Korea, Canada and Brazil remained the top suppliers over the first five months of 2026.
May Steel Import Permits Edge Higher
Steel import permit applications for May totaled 1,996,000 NT, a 0.7% increase from the 1,983,000 permit tons recorded in April and a 6.5% increase from the April preliminary imports total of 1,874,000 NT.
Import permit tonnage for finished steel in May was 1,495,000 NT, up 8.5% from the preliminary finished steel imports total of 1,378,000 NT in April.
Year-to-Date Imports Down Nearly 28%
For the first five months of 2026, including May SIMA permits and April preliminary imports, total steel imports were 8,968,000 NT and finished steel imports were 6,613,000 NT.
These figures represent declines of 27.5% and 27.7%, respectively, compared with the same period in 2025. The estimated finished steel import market share in May was 17% and stands at 16% year-to-date.
Products with Strongest Permit Increases
Steel products showing large increases in May permits versus April preliminary imports included hot rolled sheet (up 112%), tin free steel (up 92%), plates in coils (up 40%), wire rods (up 36%) and oil country goods (up 25%).
On a year-to-date basis, products with significant increases versus the same period in 2025 included standard rails (up 69%), heavy structural shapes (up 53%), reinforcing bars (up 19%) and electrical sheets and strip (up 12%).
Top Importing Countries in May
In May, the largest steel import permit applications were for South Korea (385,000 NT, up 32% from April preliminary imports), Canada (256,000 NT, down 5%), Brazil (237,000 NT, up 10%), Vietnam (145,000 NT, up 18%) and Japan (124,000 NT, up 67%).
Through the first five months of 2026, the largest suppliers were South Korea (1,558,000 NT, up 23%), Canada (1,252,000 NT, down 49%) and Brazil (1,167,000 NT, down 46%).
US Steel Imports – PAA
How much steel did the US apply to import in May 2026?
Steel import permit applications totaled 1,996,000 net tons in May 2026, up 0.7% from April permits and 6.5% above April preliminary imports.
What happened to finished steel import permits in May?
Finished steel import permits were 1,495,000 net tons, an 8.5% increase compared with April’s preliminary finished steel imports.
How do year-to-date steel imports compare with 2025?
From January through May 2026, total and finished steel imports were down 27.5% and 27.7%, respectively, versus the same period in 2025.
Which steel products showed the largest permit increases?
Hot rolled sheet, tin free steel, plates in coils, wire rods and oil country goods all recorded strong month-on-month permit increases in May.
Who are the largest foreign suppliers of steel to the US?
Year-to-date, the top suppliers are South Korea, Canada and Brazil, with South Korea showing higher volumes and Canada and Brazil posting sharp declines.
Courtesy: www.steel.org
