Steel imports historically weak through November license data

US steel imports tumbled to a near five-year low in September, according to recently finalized US Commerce Department data. The latest license figures suggest that trade has held near that low in October and November.

The total volume of steel products that entered the country in September fell to 1.56 million short tons (st), the lowest monthly rate witnessed since December 2020. The latest license data shows 1.59 million st of material was imported in October and 1.71 million st in November, the second and third-lowest monthly totals recorded since 2020.

Brett Linton

Brett Linton is a digital operations analyst for Steel Market Update, where he began his career. Linton has been in the steel industry since 2010. He has held roles as a category manager and strategic insights director at Reibus before returning to SMU in 2024. He is a graduate of The University of North Georgia with a degree in Finance and Accounting. Brett can be reached at brett@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-314-0179.