Prices
February 21, 2018
Apparent Steel Supply Ends 2017 Down at 8.5 Million Tons
Written by Brett Linton
Apparent steel supply for the month of December 2017 showed a decline month-over-month and also year-over-year to 8,501,642 net tons, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the American Iron and Steel Institute. Apparent steel supply is calculated by adding domestic steel shipments and finished U.S. steel imports, then subtracting total U.S. steel exports.
December apparent steel supply saw a 120,529 ton or 1.4 percent decrease compared to the same month one year ago. This change was due to a decline in finished imports, down 250,401 tons or 11.5 percent, and a rise in total exports of 25,130 tons or 3.5 percent. An increase in domestic shipments lessened the overall decrease in apparent steel supply as they rose by 155,002 tons or 2.2 percent.
