The U.S. Census Bureau announced that preliminary May steel imports were $1.9 billion compared to the preliminary April totals of $2.5 billion.
The May change in steel imports based on metric tonnage reflected decreases primarily in blooms, billets and slabs. Increases occurred in reinforcing bars, sheets and strip and heavy structural shapes. Decreases occurred primarily with Spain, Turkey and Korea.
The year to date final statistics through April 2019 showed steel imports of 10.4 million metric tons compared with 11.3 million metric tons through April 2018.
The largest commodity decreases occurred primarily in oil country goods, hot rolled sheets and cold rolled sheets. Increases occurred primarily in billets and slabs. The largest country decreases occurred primarily with Canada and Russia. Increases occurred primarily with Brazil and Italy.
Published in the August 2019 Edition