Steel Products Prices North America

Import Licenses Trending Below Average in September

Written by Brett Linton

September 19, 2019

U.S. steel imports were trending considerably below average though mid-September at less than 2 million tons, based on Commerce Department license data.

Imports of semi-finished steel, tracking at just over 360,000 tons, are a bit more than half the normal level, as the mills are still working off the nearly 1.2 million tons of slabs they acquired in July. Slab imports from certain countries, notably Brazil, are subject to quarterly quota limits, so domestic mills were quick to secure raw material in the first month of the third quarter. Semi-finished imports can be expected to jump again in October as the fourth quarter begins.

Finished steel imports are also on track to finish the month below average at less than 1.6 million tons. Imports of coated steels, both galvanized and Galvalume, are the only products to see an increase so far in September, based on SMU’s projection of import licenses through the end of the month.

Brett Linton

Brett Linton is a senior analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.

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