Final October Steel Imports at 2.74 Million Net Tons, November Licenses at 2.68 Million

Total finished imports were 2.37 million tons in October, down 8% from the month prior (another multi-month record). Finished steel import licenses for November are currently at 2.31 million tons, 2% below October.

Due to large month-to-month swings in semifinished imports, the chart below shows total monthly imports on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis in an attempt to more accurately display U.S. steel import trends. The 3MMA through final October data is 2.92 million tons, down from a 3+ year high of 3.04 million tons in September. Recall that the lowest 3MMA level in our recent history was October 2020 at 1.36 million tons. Looking at the latest November license data, that 3MMA is currently at 2.89 million tons.

The table below displays flat rolled product imports as well as other high-volume products, including rebar, tin plate, wire rod, structural pipe and tube, and other long products. We also provide data on imports divided into semifinished, finished, flat rolled, longs, pipe and tube, and stainless products.

The two charts below show monthly imports grouped by product category: flat rolled imports and pipe and tube imports. October flat rolled imports reached a multi-year high of 1.40 million tons, with the latest November license data showing 1.26 million tons coming into the country. Pipe and tube imports were finalized at 390,000 tons in October, and November licenses are currently up 11% to 432,000 tons.

We have an interactive graphing tool available on our website here where readers can further investigate historical import data, in total and by product. If you need assistance logging into or navigating the website, contact us at Info@SteelMarketUpdate.com.

By Brett Linton, Brett@SteelMarketUpdate.com