Steel Products Prices North America
October Imports at Yearly High
Written by Brett Linton
December 5, 2013
Final October import data was released earlier this week, showing total imports for the month at 3,101,063 net tons (2,813,240 metric tons). This figure is the highest tonnage seen since April 2012 when imports were 3,144,947 NT (2,853,051 MT). Total October imports are well above both the 3 and 12 month-moving-averages (MMA). Compared to September, October imports are up 9.98 percent.
Based on Preliminary License Data, November imports are forecast to drop significantly to approximately 2,574,959 net tons which is 226,104 net tons lower than the October final total.
Semi finished imports were at 810,364 NT in October, up 27.83 percent compared to the month prior. Tonnage in October was above both the 3MMA and 12MMA. November preliminary data currently has semifinished imports at 552,150 NT.
Oil country tubular goods (OCTG) imports in October were at 396,560 NT, a 55.43 percent increase over September. Tonnage in October was above both the 3MMA and 12MMA. November preliminary data currently has OCTG imports at 291,149 NT.
Hot rolled imports were at 239,029 NT in October, the only product we follow that was down compared to the month prior (by 20.39 percent). Tonnage in October was below both the 3MMA and 12MMA, but only below the 12MMA slightly. November preliminary data currently has hot rolled imports at 227,921 NT.
Cold rolled imports were at 141,705 NT in October, up 32.11 percent compared to the month prior. Tonnage in October was above both the 3MMA and 12MMA. November preliminary data currently has cold rolled imports at 122,295 NT.
Galvanized imports in October were at 239,131 NT, a 31.25 percent increase over September. Tonnage in October was above both the 3MMA and 12MMA. November preliminary data currently has galvanized imports at 138,200 NT.
Other metallic coated imports were at 98,632 NT in October, up 89.43 percent compared to the month prior. Tonnage in October was above both the 3MMA and 12MMA. November preliminary data currently has other metallic coated imports at 60,289 NT.
To compare steel imports, steel exports, domestic mill production, or the SMU Steel Buyers Sentiment Index to any of the pricing series provided by Steel Market Update, feel free to use our Interactive Graphing Tool by going to our homepage, hovering over the Pricing Tab, and clicking on Price History.
Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
Nucor slows HRC price climb with $5/ton increase
After eight weeks of double-digit price increases on hot-rolled (HR) coil, Nucor slowed the price rise this week with an increase of $5 per short ton.
Domestic CRC prices surge ahead of imports
The price spread between stateside-produced CR and imports reached its widest margin in over a year.
Evraz raises plate prices $160/ton
Evraz North America (NA) has followed Nucor and SSAB with a plate price increase of its own: up $160 per short ton (st). The increase was effective immediately for all new orders of carbon, high-strength low-alloy, and normalized and quenched-and-tempered plate products, as well as for hot-rolled coil, the steelmaker said in a letter to […]
Nucor lifts HR coil to $820/ton
Nucor has increased its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil for a fourth consecutive week.
Nucor pushes HR spot price to $790/ton
Nucor increased its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil to $790 per short ton (st) on Monday, Feb. 10 – a $15/st bump vs. last week. The Charlotte, N.C.-based company has raised its weekly CSP by $40/st over the past three weeks after maintaining tags at $750/st since Nov. 12, according to SMU’s […]