Preliminary August Imports at 11-Year Low

Recently released Census data has preliminary August steel imports totaling 1.30 million net tons, less than half of the volume imported in July due to the quarterly reset on semifinished import quotas. This is the lowest total monthly import level seen since September 2009.

Finished imports in August total 1.20 million tons, down 16 percent from July. Imports of semifinished products (mostly slabs) were 108,000 tons in August, down from 1.27 million tons the month prior.