Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,345,954 net tons (NT) of steel in August 2026, including 1,599,537 NT of finished steel (up 3.4 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively, vs. July 2026). Total and finished steel imports are down 15.1 percent and 18.5 percent, respectively, year-to-date vs. 2025. Over the 12 month period September 2025 to August 2026, total and finished steel imports are down 18.4 percent and 22.8 percent, respectively, vs. the prior 12 month period. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 17.5 percent in August and is estimated at 16 percent over the first eight months of 2026.
Key steel products with a significant import increase in August compared to July are hot rolled sheets (up 64 percent), plates in coils (up 31 percent) and hot dipped galvanized sheets and strip (up 21 percent). Products with a significant increase in imports over the 12-month period September 2025 to August 2026 compared to the previous 12-month period include heavy structural shapes (up 55 percent).
In August, the largest suppliers were South Korea (407,000 NT, down 27 percent vs. July), Canada (296,000 NT, up 6 percent), Brazil (351,000 NT, up 39 percent), Mexico (254,000 NT, up 32 percent) and Vietnam (159,000 NT, up 4 percent). Over the 12-month period September 2025 to August 2026, the largest suppliers were South Korea (3,660,000 NT, up 32 percent compared to the previous 12-months), Canada (3,229,000 NT, down 41 percent), Brazil (3,084,000 NT, down 28 percent), Mexico (2,164,000 NT, down 37 percent) and Vietnam (1,313,000 NT, up 22 percent).
Published November 2026
