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    February 24, 2026

    Steel imports historically weak through December and January

    Written by Brett Linton

    Steel imports slowed further in December and January, falling to near multi-year lows, according to recently released final US Commerce Department data. December trade declined 4% month-over-month (m/m) and January license figures were down another 1%, representing some of the lowest monthly trade volumes witnessed over the last five years.

    The total volume of steel products that entered the country in December was 1.58 million short tons (st). This is the second-lowest monthly import rate recorded since 2020, just 19,000 st above the multi-year low set in September. The latest license data shows 1.57 million st of material was imported in January.

    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.

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