U.S. IMPORTED 2,5 MILLION TONNES OF STEEL IN MARCH

Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,569,000 net tons (NT) of steel in March 2016, including 2,097,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (up 12.9% and down 0.1%, respectively, vs. February final data).

Year-to-date (YTD) through three months of 2016 total and finished steel imports are 7,493,000 and 6,424,000 net tons (NT), down 36% and 34% respectively, vs. the same period in 2015.

Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2016 would be 30.0 and 25.7 million NT, down 23% and 18% respectively vs. 2015. Finished steel import market share was an estimated 24% in March and is estimated at 25% YTD.