November Preliminary Imports Down 16.7 Percent from October

The U.S. Department of Commerce recently released revised import statistics for the month of November and December. Total preliminary imports for November are 2,584,176 net tons (NT), down 16.7 percent compared to October import figures. November imports are below both the 3 month-moving-average (3MMA) and 12 month-moving-average (12MMA) calculated through October. December imports, based on collected license data, are currently reported to be 2,323,214 NT.

Semi-finished preliminary imports (blooms, billets, and slabs) were reported at 665,110 NT for November down 17.9 percent from October imports. November levels are below the 3MMA but above the 12MMA. December imports are estimated to be 443,833 NT. If the December number is correct, this would be lower than any month during the past calendar year. The largest drop in tonnage is Brazil at 204,447 net tons – well below the 380,646 net tons shipped to the U.S. during November.

Brett Linton

Brett Linton is a digital operations analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.