Commerce Data Shows Import Market Share Up in January

This report examines the import share of sheet, plate, long and tubular products. As of January, imports’ share of total sheet products was 12.8%, up marginally from 12.3% in December. Although minimal, imports of sheet products have posted increases for two consecutive months after declining for seven consecutive months following the most recent peak of 16.6% in May 2020. The import share of hot rolled coil (HRC) has been below 10% since January 2019 and dipped in January to 6.7% compared to 9.0% the month prior. Despite posting a lower total in January, import volumes of HRC are expected to rise substantially in the coming months as steel buyers seek relief from extended lead times and soaring domestic prices. Preliminary license data available through the U.S. Department of Commerce shows February HRC imports have jumped by more than 60.0% compared with January’s confirmed totals, and March imports are expected to be even higher.

To date, other metallic coated sheet remains the product with the most drastic shift in import market share over the past several years, retracting from its most recent peak of 51.3% in April 2015 to its lowest total of 14.8% this past October. January rose, however, to 19.4% from 15.6% the previous month.

David Schollaert

David Schollaert is deputy editor-in-chief for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. He can be contacted at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.