Steel Market Update reviewed the U.S. import statistics in depth and found hot rolled, cold rolled and galvanized imports increased for the month of July while Galvalume imports declined.

According to the most recent data out of the U.S. Department of Commerce, total steel imports for the month of July increased by 16% compared to June 2010. Total imports of all steel products were 2,190,851 metric tons (2,414,996 short tons).

Digging deeper into the numbers what we are finding there has been considerable (and expected) growth in “blooms, billets and slabs” which increased by 163,981 metric tons (148,761 short tons) in July from the prior month. The countries who have increased their slab shipments to the U.S. are Russia (+139,960 metric tons or 154,279 short tons), Canada (+77,815 metric tons or 85,776 short tons) and Germany (+58,171 metric tons or 64,122 short tons). Japan also became a factor in July shipping 36,487 metric tons (40,219 short tons). Mexican slab shipments declined in July by 41,709 metric tons.

SMU’s opinion is the German slabs are being sent to the new ThyssenKrupp mill in Calvert, Alabama which began production earlier this month. So far this year the Germans have sent 79,000 metric tons (87,082 short tons) with another 45,252 metric tons due into the U.S. during the month of August. By the end of August ThyssenKrupp Steel USA should have received approximately 137,000 short tons of slabs. This would then be their feed stock for their hot mill which is now being commissioned, which in turn will feed their cold mill which will soon be in the process of being commissioned as well.

Hot Rolled, Cold Rolled, Galvanized & Galvalume

Hot rolled imports rose during the month of July based on preliminary U.S. Census data. The increase was 21% as the tonnage rose from 167,911 metric tons (185,089 short tons) to 212,807 metric tons (234,579 short tons). August is currently forecast to be much lower based on import license data collected through the 24th of August. August is forecast to be approximately 158,504 metric tons (174,720 short tons) which, if correct, will be 25% lower than July.

Cold Rolled imports were up by 13% in July compared to June. July preliminary U.S. Census data has 68,008 metric tons (74,965 short tons) compared to 59,716 metric tons in June (65,825 short tons). August is forecast to be about the same as July with 64,034 metric tons projected.

Galvanized tonnage in July was actually lower than June by 9% with 115,396 metric tons (127,202 short tons) vs. June’s 126,520 metric tons (139,464 short tons). August is forecast to be almost exactly the same as July at 111,600 metric tons (123,017 short tons).

Galvalume (other metallic which includes aluminized) tonnage in July was 53% lower than during the month of June. In June the U.S. received 49,968 metric tons (55,080 short tons) vs. July’s 23,516 metric tons (25,921 short tons). August is forecast to improve closer to June levels at 45,773 metric tons (50,456 short tons).

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