Based on revised Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 31,476,000 net tons (NT) of steel in 2021, including 22,770,000 NT of finished steel. These totals represent increases of 43.0 percent and 41.0 percent respectively, vs. 2020.
Final Census Bureau data for December 2021 showed total steel imports at 2,885,000 NT, including 2,255,000 NT of finished steel (down 0.7 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively, vs. November revised data). Finished steel import market share was 24 percent in December and 21 percent for full year 2021.
Key steel products with a significant increase in 2021 vs. 2020 were hot rolled sheets (up 89 percent), plates in coils (up 75 percent), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 69 percent), oil country goods (up 67 percent) and wire rods (up 62 percent).
Products with a significant increase in imports in December over November were tin plate (up 51 percent), standard pipe (up 30 percent), line pipe (up 26 percent), mechanical tubing (up 21 percent) and ingots and billets and slabs (up 13 percent).
In 2021, the largest volumes of steel imports were from Canada (6,970,000 NT, up 34 percent vs. 2020), Mexico (4,760,000 NT, up 44 percent), Brazil (4,365,000 NT, up 8 percent), South Korea (2,748,000 NT, up 36 percent) and Russia (1,633,000 NT, up 280 percent). In December, the largest suppliers were Canada (559,000 NT, up 5 percent from November final), Mexico (553,000 NT, up 21 percent), Brazil (253,000 NT, up 70 percent), South Korea (242,000 NT, up 9 percent) and Vietnam (165,000 NT, down 9 percent).
Published in the April 2022 Edition
