August Import Share of US Sheet and Plate Markets

Imported sheet and plate products arrived at US ports at a slower clip in August, resulting in them accounting for a lower share of the domestic market for the second straight month, 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 Institute.

Imports’ share of US sheet and plate markets recent peak was in December, with sheet reaching its highest level 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. Since then, the arrival of foreign material has ebbed and flowed. August’s were down again after June’s were a most recent high.

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.