The US imported 2mn nt (1.81 mn mt) of steel in July, while finished steel imports fell by 6.9pc to 1.2mn nt, from the prior month, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
In the first seven months of 2020, total and finished steel imports declined by 22.9pc and 27.2pc to 14.4mn nt and 9.9mn nt, respectively, compared to the same period in 2019.
Finished steel imports that saw the most significant increase in July from the prior month included reinforcing bars (up 71pc), tin plate (up 49pc), and heavy structural shapes (up 32pc).
AISI estimates a 19pc share in the finished steel import market for both July and the January-July period.
In July, the largest exporters to the US were South Korea (144,000nt – down 23pc from June), Turkey (71,000nt – up 1.4 times), and Japan (63,00nt – up 4pc). In the first seven months, these countries were South Korea (1.26mn nt – down 22pc from the same period last year), Japan (497,000nt – down 39pc), and Germany (421,000nt – down 39pc as well).