Final June Steel Imports Slip to 12-Year Low

Recently released Census data shows final June steel imports totaled 1.40 million net tons, down 22 percent from May and down 50 percent from March, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. This is the lowest monthly import level since November 2009 when total imports were 1.38 million tons. This final June figure is just 5,800 tons higher than the preliminary import figures SMU reported in late-July.

Finished imports in June totaled 1.33 million tons, down 12 percent from May, but flat with April. Imports of semifinished products (mostly slabs) were just 69,000 tons in June, down from 297,000 tons the month prior. This contrasts with April when semifinished imports were at 1.45 million tons as the quarterly quotas for those products had reset.