U.S. IMPORTED 2,786 MILLION TONS OF STEEL ON MAY

Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported this Friday that the U.S. imported a total of 2,786,000 net tons (NT) of steel in May 2016, including 2,077,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (up 12.2% and 1.8%, respectively, vs. April final data).

Year-to-date (YTD) through five months of 2016 total and finished steel imports are 12,795,000 and 10,544,000 net tons (NT), both down 31% vs. the same period in 2015. 

Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2016 would be 30.7 and 25.3 million NT, down 21% and 20% respectively vs. 2015. 

Finished steel import market share was an estimated 23% in May and is estimated at 24% YTD.