Analysis
August 7, 2026
Steel import licenses rebound in July after June decline
Written by Laura Miller
Licenses to import steel into the US surged in July to the highest level since May 2025, according to recently released US Commerce Department data. Final June figures show a 3.8% month-on-month decline, while July licenses show a 9% recovery.
Although June imports declined m/m, June’s 2.1 million short tons (st) of imports was the third highest total so far this year. July license data currently totals 2.294 million st, the highest level in 14 months.
Recall that late last year through February this year, imports fell to some of the lowest levels recorded since 2020.
Imports by country
Imports from South Korea remain strong, with 513,949 st of July licenses at a recent high. At 327,017 st in July, Mexico was the second-top origin for US imports, followed by Canada at 278,956 st. Shipments from Mexico increased 71% m/m and were the strongest monthly amount since March 2025.
To further explore steel import data by country, category, or specific product, visit the International Trade Administration’s Steel Import Monitor.
Import trends
To better highlight trends and smooth out monthly variations, imports can be viewed as a three-month moving average (3MMA, Figure 1, right). From this perspective, imports trended lower across 2025, bottomed out in early 2026, and have trended back upward since.
The 3MMA rose to a 10-month high of 2.07 million st in June and is up to nearly 2.2 million st through July licenses, a potential 11-month high. Despite the recent upticks, 3MMA measures for most of the last year have been weak compared with previous years.
Table 1 highlights high-volume steel product imports. Note that the 3MMA and 12MMA columns are calculated through final June data and do not include July licenses. For deeper analysis, visit our Steel Imports page.
Finished vs. semi-finished imports
Imports of semi-finished steel increased 2.2% from May to June, while July licenses rose by another 11.2%. Slab imports jumped, with big increases from Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Indonesia, and Russia.
Finished steel imports fell 6.1% from May to June but rebounded in July. July’s license count of 1,599,510 st is at a 12-month high (Figure 2).
Imports by category
Figure 3 shows monthly imports of popular steel product categories. While other products show rises, flat-rolled imports are down. Notable shifts include:
- Flat-rolled imports declined slightly from May to June and then fell sharply, based on July licenses.
- Pipe and tube imports rose 23% from May to June and then another 23% in July to the highest monthly total in 18 months.
- Long product imports declined sharply in June from May’s 16-month high. July licenses show a rebound to the second-highest total in 18 months.
- Stainless imports inched higher from May to June, while July licenses show a decline.
Flat-rolled imports
Figure 4 tracks flat-rolled steel imports for six popular products. Key highlights:
- Hot-rolled coil imports hit a 13-month high in June. July licenses tumbled 23%.
- Cold-rolled coil imports were at an 11-month high in June, but July licenses show a 39.5% m/m decline.
- Galvanized imports fell in June from May’s four-month high and showed another slight decrease in July licenses.
- Other metallic coated imports rose 19% m/m in June to an 11-month high. July licenses fell back 17%.
- Coiled plate imports dropped in June, while July licenses show an uptick.
- Cut-to-length (CTL) plate imports fell in June, but July licenses rose to a three-month high.
