US total steel import permits for May tallied 2.62mn nt (2.37mn mt), up by 3.8pc from permits worth 2.53mn nt in April, but down 0.7pc from actual imports in April, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported.
For May, total finished steel import permits stood at 1.82mn nt, up 9.9pc from 1.66mn nt in April. During the first five months of this year, total and finished steel imports stood at 11.9mn nt and 7.9mn nt, respectively, up by 8.1pc and 8.5pc from the same period last year.
A spike in imports of tin plate was seen in May against April, growing 210pc while imports of tin-free steel grew 75pc and light shapes and bars were up 45pc during the same period under comparison. Also, cold-rolled sheets were up 39pc while hot-dipped galvanized strip jumped 30pc.
Last month, South Korea remained the largest exporter to the US, applying for permits worth 236,000nt (down 11pc monthly). Japan followed at 98,000nt (up 11pc) and Germany at 82,000nt (up 72pc) and Turkey’s applications amounting to 74,000nt (up 18pc). During the first five months as well, growth figures followed the same order.