Steel Products Prices North America

Steel Imports Down 14 Percent Through September
Written by Tim Triplett
October 29, 2019
Steel imports are down significantly this year, the result of trade actions and economic forces, but the import market share is relatively unchanged.
Through the first nine months of 2019, the U.S. imported at total of 22.6 million tons of steel, a 13.7 percent decline from the same period in 2018, reports the American Iron and Steel Institute. Finished steel imports, totaling 16.9 million tons, were down 16.1 percent, according to the Census Bureau data. However, the market share for finished steel imports is still an estimated 20 percent.
Annualized, total steel imports would be down by 10.7 percent and finished steel imports down by 12.5 percent versus full-year 2018, AISI reported.

Tim Triplett
Read more from Tim TriplettLatest in Steel Products Prices North America

SMU price ranges: Flat-rolled balloon continues to leak
Sheet and plate prices were flat or lower again this week on continued concerns about demand and higher production rates among US mills.

HRC vs. busheling spread narrows in August
The price spread between prime scrap and hot-rolled coil (HRC) narrowed in August, according to SMU’s most recent pricing data.

SMU Price Ranges: Market drifts lower still
All five of SMU's steel sheet and plate price indices declined this week, falling to lows last seen in February.

Discontentment brews in plate market with flat, status-quo pricing
Sources in the carbon and alloy steel plate market said they are less discouraged by market uncertainty resulting from tariffs or foreign relations, but are instead, eager to see disruption to the flat pricing environment.

Nucor lowers HR coil spot price by $15/ton
Nucor has implemented a double-digit price decrease on spot hot-rolled (HR) coil for the second consecutive week.