According to preliminary census data from the US Department of Commerce, US monthly steel imports in September 2023 decreased 4.1 percent from August to total 1,983,798 mt. A year-on-year comparison shows a 2.3 percent decrease. In terms of value, US steel imports in September totaled $2.39 billion, compared to $2.79 billion in August and $3.10 billion in September 2022.
Top sources for US steel imports in September include: Canada, with 487,157 mt; Brazil, with 410,136 mt; Mexico, with 324,829 mt; South Korea, with 300,668 mt; and Japan, with 60,299 mt.
By product group, semi-finished imports totaled 537,201 mt in September, up from 371,355 mt in August and 333,305 mt in September 2022. Flat product imports totaled 782,233 mt in September, up from 767,280 mt in August but down from 800,389 mt in September 2022. Long product imports totaled 276,659 mt in September, down from 457,459 mt in August and 352,221 mt in September 2022. Pipe and tube imports totaled 318,575 mt in September, down from 393,329 mt in August and 461,421 mt in September 2022.
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), the US steel import market share in September 2023 was estimated at 20 percent, compared to 21 percent in August and 22 percent year-to-date.