U.S. Steel Import Permits Drop 6.4% in January: AISI

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), citing the Commerce Department’s Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data, reported that U.S. steel import permit applications totaled 1,568,000 net tons (NT) in January. The figure marks a 6.4% decline from December’s 1,675,000 permit tons and a slight 0.6% drop from the final December import total of 1,577,000 NT.

Finished steel import permits reached 1,216,000 NT in January, representing a 4.8% increase from December’s final total of 1,160,000 NT. Finished steel imports accounted for an estimated 15% market share during the month.

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Several product categories recorded sharp month-on-month increases in permit volumes. Sheets and strip classified as all other metallic coated surged 47%, while reinforcing bars climbed 44%. Cold rolled sheets rose 43%, hot rolled sheets increased 28%, and standard pipe advanced 22% compared with December’s final imports.

By country, South Korea led with 241,000 NT in permit applications, up 45% from December. Mexico followed with 220,000 NT, rising 61%, while Canada posted 221,000 NT, down 5%. Brazil recorded 185,000 NT, a 28% decline, and Turkey totaled 81,000 NT, up 17%.