US steel imports fall in 2020

Both US total and finished steel imports fell on-year in 2020, Kallanish learns from the American Iron and Steel Institute.

According to preliminary Census Bureau data, US steel imports totalled 1.494 million short tons in December, 1.34m st of which were finished products. This is up 9% and 13.5%, respectively, from November’s final data.

On-year, however, US steel imports were down -23.3% for finished steel products and -21.2% in total. In 2020, US steel imports totalled 22.019m st, 16.139m st of which were finished products. Finished steel import market share was estimated at 18% in December, as well as on-year.

Notable on-month increases include line pipe (up 223%), oil country tubular goods (up 148%), plates in coils (up 84%), hot rolled sheets (up 36%), hot rolled bars (up 15%), cold rolled sheets (up 14%) and tin plate (up 10%).

In December, the countries with the largest volumes of finished steel exports to the US were: South Korea (222,000 st); the Netherlands (86,000 st); Germany (66,000st); Japan (56,000 st); and Taiwan (43,000 st).