Steel Products Prices North America

AIIS View of November 2015 Steel Imports
Written by Sandy Williams
January 18, 2016
Each month the American Institute for International Steel (AIIS) provides an analysis of steel imports to the U.S. The following January 18 release describes imports for November.
Falls Church, VA. January 18, 2016. Steel imports plunged once again in November, dipping to a level more than one-third less than a year earlier.
The United States imported 2.35 million net tons of steel in November, nearly 24 percent less than in October and 36.4 percent less than in November 2014. Brazil was the largest provider of steel to the United States in October, but imports from that country fell 43.7 percent to 345,000 net tons the following month, 14 percent below the total for November 2014. Canada sent 435,000 net tons of steel south of the border in November, 6.4 percent less than the preceding month and 7.6 percent less than in November 2014. Imports from the European Union were nearly unchanged month-to-month at 393,000 net tons – though this was almost 45 percent less than in November 2014 – while imports from South Korea fell nearly 16 percent to 299,000 net tons, a cut of more than 36 percent from the same month the previous year.
From January through November 2015, steel imports totaled 36.34 million net tons, 10.7 percent less than during the same period in 2014. Imports from the European Union fell 13.4 percent, but that region was still the largest supplier of steel to the United States during the period at 5.59 million net tons. Canada followed at 5.36 million net tons, a decline of 3.6 percent, then Brazil at 5.09 million net tons, which, despite the November dip, was 10.7 percent more than in 2014.
Monthly semifinished imports fell 43.2 percent from November 2014 to November 2015, coming in at 430,000 net tons. Year-to-date, semifinished imports are down 30.2 percent at 6.92 million net tons.
This is clearly a difficult time for the entire steel industry. The worldwide economic slowdown has reduced demand, and even though the United States is faring somewhat better than others, steel consumption here is down because of falling oil prices and continued economic uncertainty. Domestic producers and steel importers both need a vibrant economy that will boost capital spending, and the availability of quality imported steel at good prices can help to engender that vibrancy. (AIIS Press Release)

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Products Prices North America

Domestic plate prices could heat up despite so-so demand, market sources say
Some sources also speculated that plate could see further price increases thanks to modest but steady demand, lower imports, mill maintenance outages, and end markets less immediately affected by tariff-related disruptions.

SMU Price Ranges: HR holds, galv slips amid competing market narratives
SMU’s sheet and plate prices see-sawed this week as hot-rolled (HR) coil prices held their ground while prices for galvanized product slipped.

Nucor carries $875/ton HR list price into week seven
Nucor is keeping hot-rolled (HR) coil prices unchanged again this week, according to its latest consumer spot price (CSP) notice issued on Monday, Oct. 6

SMU Price Ranges: A newsy week sees modest price gains despite a quiet spot market
Market participants predicted that prices should be at or near a bottom. But while most seemed to agree on that point, many also said they saw little upside given a quiet spot market and ongoing concerns about demand.

Nucor increases plate prices by $60/ton
Nucor aims to increase prices for steel plate by $60 per short ton with the opening of its November order book.