According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US monthly steel imports in February 2023 decreased 13.5 percent from January to total 2,048,269 mt. A year-on-year comparison shows a 4.1 percent decrease. In terms of value, US steel imports in February totaled $2.79 billion, compared to $3.29 billion in January and $3.10 billion in February 2022.
Top sources for US steel imports in February include: Canada, with 487,989 mt; Mexico, with 346,622 mt; Brazil, with 320,051 mt; South Korea, with 204,493 mt; and Germany, with 72,040 mt.
By product group, flat product imports totaled 656,041 mt in February, down from 790,167 mt in January and 801,007 mt in February 2022. Long product imports totaled 374,079 mt in February, down from 420,702 mt in January and 439,739 mt in February 2022. Pipe and tube imports totaled 471,394 mt in February, down from 536,945 mt in January but up from 348,109 mt in February 2022. Semi-finished product imports totaled 474,877 mt in February, down from 538,275 mt in January but up from 446,605 mt in February 2022.
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), the US steel import market share in February 2023 was estimated at 22 percent, compared to 24 percent in January and 23 percent year-to-date.