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    Long Products

    July 20, 2026

    Apparent steel supply at multi-year high in May

    Written by Brett Linton

    The volume of finished steel entering the US market increased 8% from April to May to the highest monthly rate recorded in years, according to SMU’s analysis of recent US Department of Commerce and American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) data.

    Referred to as “apparent steel supply,” this measure is calculated by combining domestic mill shipments and finished US steel imports, then subtracting total US exports. It can also be used as a proxy for domestic steel demand.

    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.

    Read more from Brett Linton

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