May Import Share of US Sheet and Plate Markets

Imported sheet and plate products arrived at US ports at a slower pace in May, resulting in them accounting for a lower share of the domestic market, according to Commerce Department data.

Imports’ share of US sheet and plate markets peaked in December, reaching their highest levels in the past 4.5 years. The trend was driven by the need for buyers to find relief from inflated domestic steel prices. As the market slowed at year end, so did imports. That trend reversed in March, but the arrival of foreign sheet and plate products has declined since.

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.