August Import Market Share for Sheet and Plate Products

In the face of strong demand, limited availability and record-high prices in the U.S., steel buyers have looked overseas for relief. August Commerce Department data shows steel imports have been on the rise for the past three months, with imports’ share of total sheet product shipments reaching 17.5%, up from 16.7% the month prior, and the highest level in nearly four years. Market share of plate product imports edged down slightly in August to 21.1%, versus 21.7% the month prior, on an increase in domestic plate shipments.

Imports’ share of domestic sheet product shipments hit its lowest level in more than a decade at 9.7% at the beginning of 2020. Since then, except for a slight contraction in April, sheet imports into the U.S. have risen month on month. Even though shipments of sheet products by domestic mills were up 2.7% in August, imports of sheet products rose by 8.2% month on month, pushing imports’ share to the highest mark since October 2018, when the import share of sheet products was 18.0%.

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.