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    Analysis

    October 13, 2026

    Apparent steel supply remains historically strong through August

    Written by Brett Linton

    The volume of finished steel entering the US market rose 1% from July to August and remained historically strong, according to SMU’s analysis of recently released data from the Department of Commerce and the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

    Called “apparent steel supply,” this measure combines domestic mill shipments and finished US steel imports, then subtracts total US exports. It can 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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