September 24, 2021
Washington, D.C. – Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 2,767,000 net tons (NT) of steel in August 2021, including 2,102,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 10.1% and up 1.0%, respectively, vs. July final data). Through the first eight months of 2021, total and finished steel imports are 20,564,000 and 14,209,000 net tons (NT), up 25.5% and 26.9%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2020. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2021 would be 30.8 and 21.3 million NT, up 40.1% and 32.1%, respectively, vs. 2020. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 21% in August and is estimated at 20% over the first eight months of 2021.
Key finished steel products with a significant increase in imports in August compared to July are hot rolled sheets (up 22%), sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 18%) and mechanical tubing (up 14%). Products with a significant year-to-date (YTD) increase vs. the same period in 2020 were hot rolled sheets (up 94%), plates in coils (up 67%), sheets and strip all other metallic coatings (up 50%), wire rods (up 46%), cut lengths plates (up 45%), heavy structural shapes (up 27%), wire drawn (up 23%), hot rolled bars (up 22%), sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 19%), cold rolled sheets (up 18%), tin plate (up 14%) and oil country goods (up 14%).