Steel Products Prices North America
April Steel Imports Rise to Nine-Month High
Written by Brett Linton
June 1, 2021
Preliminary Census data shows that total foreign steel imports rose 14% from March to April, up to 2.64 million tons, as U.S. buyers sought relief from climbing domestic prices and limited supplies. This is the highest total monthly import level seen since July 2020 when imports were 2.71 million tons.
Import licenses currently for May are at 2.52 million tons, down 4% from April, but up 9% over March. For comparison, the average monthly import level for 2020 was 1.84 million tons, down from 2.32 million tons in 2019 and 2.81 million tons in 2018.
Total finished steel imports were 1.68 million tons in April, down 7% from March’s 19-month high. Finished steel import licenses for May are currently at 1.80 million tons, a bounce back from April’s dip, and could potentially be the highest level since July 2019.
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 through preliminary April import data is 2.28 million tons, up from 2.21 million tons in March and up from 1.94 million tons in January. The lowest 3MMA level in our recent history was October 2020 at 1.36 million tons. The April 3MMA is now the highest seen since September 2019.
The table below now includes other high-volume products in addition to our normal focus on flat rolled products; we now show a brief history on products such as rebar, tin plate, wire rod, structural pipe and tube, and other long products. We also provide data on categorized imports, divided into semifinished, finished, flat rolled, longs, pipe and tube, and stainless products.
The two charts below show monthly imports grouped by product category: flat rolled imports and pipe and tube imports. Both product groups declined in April, with flat rolled imports down 10% from the month prior and pipe and tube imports down 4%. Looking through May data, each product group has rebounded a bit; current license data suggests a 10% rise in flat rolled imports and a 2% increase in pipe and tube imports over April.
By Brett Linton, Brett@SteelMarketUpdate.com
Brett Linton
Read more from Brett LintonLatest in Steel Products Prices North America
SMU Price Ranges: Sheet floor holds as market debates upside
Our average HR coil price increased $5/short ton from last week, marking a second consecutive week of modest gains. Market participants generally attributed the increase to...
Thin demand keeps plate prices hovering at lowest levels since February
Participants in the domestic plate market say spot prices appear to have hit the floor, and they continue to linger there. They say demand for steel remains thin, with plate products no exception.
SMU Price Ranges: HR crawls back to $800/ton
SMU’s HR price stands at $800/st on average, up $5/st from last week. The modest gain came as the low end of our range firmed, and despite the high end of our range declining slightly.
SMU successfully completes IOSCO review
SMU has successfully completed an external review of all our prices. The review has concluded that they algin with principles set by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
Domestic plate prices could heat up despite so-so demand, market sources say
Some sources also speculated that plate could see further price increases thanks to modest but steady demand, lower imports, mill maintenance outages, and end markets less immediately affected by tariff-related disruptions.