Steel import permit applications fell by 12.3pc to 2mn nt (1.8mn mt) in June from 2.3mn nt a month earlier, according to American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data.
However, import permit applications rose by 10.9pc from 1.8mn nt in May, while import permit tonnage for finished steel in June declined by 5.7pc to 1.4mn nt from 1.5mn nt in the prior month. In H1 2020, total and finished steel imports to the US declined by 16pc and 25.3pc to 13mn nt and 8.7mn nt, respectively.
According to the AISI data, light shapes bar imports surged by 77pc in June from a month earlier, followed by sheets and strip. Hot-dipped galvanized steel rose by 68pc, cold finished bars increased by 55pc, line pipes jumped by 39pc, and structural pipe and tubing climbed by 19pc. Year-to-date, light shapes bars rose by 25pc this year compared to H1 2019, followed by tin-free steel, which increased by 20pc.
Last month, the US received the most finished steel from South Korea at 211,000nt, which was 8pc lower than May; Brazil’s 86,000nt shipments surged by 66pc; Taiwan’s at 72,000nt fell by 13pc; Germany’s at 72,000nt rose by 11pc, and Japan’s 57,000nt dropped by 44pc.
In H1 2020, South Korea accounted for the most finished steel import permit applications to the US at 1.1mn nt, which declined by 21pc from H1 2019, followed by Japan’s 430,000nt, which decreased by 41pc, and Germany’s 369000nt which fell by 40pc.