Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,260,147 net tons (NT) of steel in July 2026, including 1,561,961 NT of finished steel (up 7.4 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively, vs. June 2026). Total and finished steel imports are down 19.6 percent and 22.1 percent, respectively, year-to-date vs. 2025. Over the 12-month period August 2025 to July 2026, total and finished steel imports are down 21.6 percent and 25.3 percent, respectively, vs. the prior 12-month period. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 17 percent in July and is estimated at 16 percent over the first seven months of 2026.
Key steel products with a significant import increase in July compared to June are wire rods (up 53 percent), hot rolled bars (up 52 percent), oil country goods (up 45 percent), and standard pipe (up 36 percent). Products with a significant increase in imports over the 12-month period August 2025 to July 2026 compared to the previous 12-month period include heavy structural shapes (up 44 percent).
In July, the largest suppliers were South Korea (556,000 NT, up 32 percent vs. June), Canada (280,000 NT, down 5 percent), Brazil (253,000 NT, up 3 percent), Mexico (192,000 NT, up 0.3 percent) and Vietnam (150,000 NT, down 0.4 percent). Over the 12-month period August 2025 to July 2026, the largest suppliers were South Korea (3,430,000 NT, up 20 percent compared to the previous 12-months), Canada (3,268,000 NT, down 42 percent), Brazil (3,001,000 NT, down 33 percent), Mexico (2,103,000 NT, down 39 percent) and Vietnam (1,244,000 NT, up 9 percent).
Published October 2026
