Steel imports remain muted through December

According to recently released final US Commerce Department data, US steel imports rebounded 11% month on month (m/m) in October 2025 after falling to a multi-year low one month earlier. The latest license figures suggest imports eased back by 3% in November and by another 2% in December, with trade again nearing historical lows.

The total volume of steel products that entered the country in October was 1.73 million short tons (st). This comes just one month after total imports fell to 1.56 million mt, the lowest rate witnessed since December 2020. The latest license data shows 1.68 million st of material was imported in November and 1.64 million st in December, potentially 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.