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    AIIS: Steel Imports Drop 18 Percent in February

    Written by Sandy Williams


    Monthly steel imports plummeted more than 18 percent to 2.36 million net tons in February, according to the American Institute for International Steel, which represents foreign steel producers. The decline continued a downward trend, with February’s imports more than 13 percent below February 2017 shipments.

    Imports from Canada totaled 499,000 net tons, 10.5 percent less than in January, but 2.3 percent more than the previous February, while imports from the European Union climbed almost 9 percent to 377,000 net tons, a two-thirds increase from a year earlier. Imports from South Korea, Brazil and Mexico came in at 277,000 net tons, 238,000 net tons and 225,000 net tons, respectively, marking decreases from January of 18.4 percent, 36.4 percent and 32.5 percent. Imports from South Korea were up 5.6 percent compared to February of last year, while imports from Brazil and Mexico were down 37 percent and 14.2 percent.

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    SMU scrap market survey results now available

    SMU’s November ferrous scrap market survey results are now available on our website to all premium members. After logging in at steelmarketupdate.com, visit the Pricing and Analysis tab and look under the “survey results” section for Ferrous Scrap Survey results. Past scrap survey results are also available under that selection. If you need help accessing the survey results or if your company would like to have your voice heard in our future surveys, contact smu@crugroup.com.