Steel Products Prices North America

Final October Steel Imports Rise to 1.5 Million Tons
Written by Brett Linton
December 10, 2020
Commerce released final steel import data this week showing October imports totaling 1.51 million net tons, up 20 percent over the month prior. Although imports increased for the month, recall that September imports had fallen to an 11-year low or 1.26 million tons. November import licenses are currently at the 1.40 million ton level, but will continue to fluctuate over the next few weeks as data is processed.

Due to large month-to-month swings in semifinished imports, the chart below shows total monthly imports on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis in an attempt to more accurately display the U.S. steel import trend. The 3MMA for November is now 1.39 million tons, up slightly over October. The average monthly import level for 2020 is now 1.88 million tons through November license data.

Total finished imports in October are up 8 percent over the prior month, up to 1.27 million tons. Imports of semifinished products (mostly slabs) were 240,000 tons, up from 85,000 tons in September.
November import licenses are currently comprised of 1.34 million tons of finished product imports and 70,000 tons of semifinished steels.

The two charts below show monthly imports grouped by product category–flat rolled imports and pipe and tube imports. Both charts show 2020 levels are down over the previous year, much more so in the pipe and tube category than flat rolled. We have limited data here, but hope to expand in the future.


 
			    			
			    		Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
 
		                                September Import Share of US Sheet and Plate Markets
Imported sheet and plate products arrived at US ports at a slower clip in September, accounting for a lower share of the domestic market for the third straight month. That’s according to a Steel Market Update analysis of import data from the US Commerce Department and domestic shipment figures from the American Iron and Steel […]
 
		                                US Apparent Steel Supply Falls Further in September
US apparent steel supply eased further in September, down 8% from August to 8.29 million net tons, according to data from the US Department of Commerce and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). As the lowest monthly figure since February 2021, this was a 19-month low. September supply was 10% below the average monthly rate […]
 
		                                Northwest Pipe Reports Sharply Higher Q3 Results
Engineered pipe and tube producer Northwest Pipe Co. posted sharply higher profits for the third quarter ended Sept. 30. The Vancouver, Wash.-based company said the boost was driven by strong demand and increasing backlogs from its engineered pipeline systems and precast products, according to earnings data released on Tuesday, Nov. 8 All told, Northwest Pipe posted net […]
 
		                                SMU Price Ranges: Flat-Rolled Steel Falls (Yet Again)
Sheet prices fell across the board again this week as the slow grind lower that we’ve seen since last spring continued to gain speed. Hot-rolled coil prices fell $30 per ton ($1.50 per cwt) week-over-week. Declines in coated products were more pronounced, with cold rolled down $55 per ton, galvanized down $35 per ton, and […]
 
		                                US Steel Exports Slip 10% in September
US steel export volumes shrunk 10% from August to September, according to the latest US Commerce Department data. 723,000 net tons of steel products exited the country during the month, now the fourth-lowest monthly export rate over the past year and a half. Recall that exports levels in August were at the third-highest monthly rate […]
