Steel Products Prices North America
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/media/k2/items/src/bcb5085d6662f5a9d434811c688c4a12.jpg)
July Apparent Steel Supply at 9.4 Million Tons
Written by Brett Linton
September 24, 2019
July apparent steel supply was calculated at 9,351,701 net tons, according to data recently released by the American Iron and Steel Institute and U.S. Department of Commerce. Apparent steel supply, a proxy for demand, is determined by adding domestic steel shipments and finished U.S. steel imports, then subtracting total U.S. steel exports.
July apparent steel supply saw a 99,929 ton or 1.1 percent decrease compared to the same month one year ago. This change was primarily due to a decrease in finished imports of 339,143 tons or 15.4 percent. An increase in domestic shipments of 203,875 tons or 2.6 percent and a decline in exports of 35,339 tons or 5.4 percent lessened the overall year-over-year decrease in apparent steel supply.
The net trade balance between U.S. steel imports and exports was a surplus of 2,408,699 tons imported in July, up 968,460 tons or 67.2 percent from the prior month, and up 77,071 tons or 3.3 percent from one year ago. This was due to the surge of semifinished products imported in July. Finished steel imports accounted for 19.9 percent of apparent steel supply in July, up from 19.6 percent in June, but down from 23.2 percent one year ago.
Compared to the prior month when apparent steel supply was 8,855,976 tons, July supply rose by 495,725 tons or 5.6 percent. This was due to an increase in domestic shipments of 396,604 tons or 5.1 percent and an increase in finished imports of 120,996 tons or 7.0 percent. A decrease in total exports of 21,875 tons or 3.7 percent lessened the overall increase in apparent steel supply.
The figure below shows year-to-date totals for each statistic over the last five years. Apparent steel supply remains on the high side this year compared to previous years, as do domestic shipments and semifinished imports. Total imports are mixed for 2019, while finished imports are marginally down and exports are down significantly.
To see an interactive graphic of our Apparent Steel Supply history (example below), visit the Apparent Steel Supply page in the Analysis section of the SMU website. If you need any assistance logging in or navigating the website, contact us at info@SteelMarketUpdate.com or 800-432-3475.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/SMU_BL_headshot-V4-150x150.png)
Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/CRU-Logo-2023-07-21-at-4.35.41-PM.png)
CRU: Longs pricing trends diverge in North, South America
Most longs prices in the US were unchanged this month, except for rebar, which declined by $1.50/cwt ($30/short ton) m/m. While end-use demand is stable, inventories are well-stocked, keeping purchases limited. Domestic availability is sufficient to meet current demand, hindering the appetite for imported material. Meanwhile, prices for scrap remained under pressure in June, with […]
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/Nucor.png)
Nucor cuts plate prices by $125/ton, cites ongoing competition
Nucor Corp. announced that its plate mill group would cut prices for as-rolled, discrete, and normalized plate with the opening of its August order book.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/Nucor.png)
Nucor cuts HR price for fourth straight week
Nucor lowered its consumer spot price (CSP) for hot-rolled (HR) coil by another $10 per short ton (st) for the first week of July. The steelmaker said in a letter to customers on Monday that its CSP base price for the week will be $670/st for all of its sheet mills with the exception of California Steel Industries (CSI).
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/images/Featured_News_Icons/Cliffs_logo2.2.png)
Cliffs sets $720/ton HR price with opening of August books
Cleveland-Cliffs on Tuesday announced its monthly hot-rolled (HR) coil price of $720 per short ton (st) with the official opening of its August order book. The rate is down from last month’s price of $800/st.
![](https://www.steelmarketupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/07/CRU-Logo-2023-07-21-at-4.35.41-PM.png)
CRU: Demand weakness continues to weigh on global sheet markets
Demand has remained persistently weak across the globe for sheet steel, weighing on prices. US HR coil prices fell the furthest this week as high-volume, low-priced deals were transacted as mills looked to fill order books and competed with one another amid relative demand weakness. Meanwhile, European prices were also down due to low demand […]