According to preliminary data from the US Census Bureau, a total of 2 million tons of steel were imported in August, including 1,783 million tons of finished steel.
On Wednesday, data showed that total imports in August decreased by 34% compared with the July level, while imports of finished steel decreased by 3.4% compared with the previous month.
According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, in the first eight months of 2019, total imports of finished steel in the United States amounted to 20.668 million and 15.321 million tons, which is 13.6% and 15.9% respectively less compared to the same period last year. .
AISI noted that the main finished metal products, which grew significantly in August compared with July, were hot rolled sheets, imports grew by 10% on a monthly basis to 173,764 tons.
In August, the S & P Global Platts base price estimate for an American-made hot rolled coil averaged $ 596.32 a piece from an Indiana plant. As of September 25, the estimate averaged $ 558.03 / USD, which is 6.4% less - a likely reflection of fiercer competition in imports combined with weak domestic demand.
The annual volume of total and finished steel imports in 2019 will be 31 million and 23 million pounds, which is 8.1% and 10.6%, respectively, compared with 2018, according to AISI.
The Washington-based human rights group said that the share of the finished imported steel market in the United States in August was approximately 19%, and 20% in the first eight months of 2019.
