US imports reach 14-month high in July; Aug. flat-rolled licenses surge

US steel imports increased 7.8% in July and, based on US Department of Commerce license data, rose even higher in August.

July imports were at a 14-month high, coming in at 2,269,996 short tons (st), up from June’s 2,105,036 st. July imports recovered 45.5% from September 2025’s near-five-year low of 1,560,512 st. August license data collected through Sept. 7 totals 2,498,516 st, a 10% m/m increase and a 17-month high (Figure 1, left).

Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. She has held various editorial positions with steel industry publications, associations, and mills since 2007. She joined the SMU team in 2022. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.