Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute reported that the U.S. imported a total of 1,255,000 net tons (NT) of steel in September 2020, including 1,166,000 net tons (NT) of finished steel (down 2.8% and 1.1%, respectively, vs. August final data).
Through the first nine months of 2020, total and finished steel imports are 17,646,000 and 12,367,000 net tons (NT), down 21.9% and 26.7%, respectively, vs. the same period in 2019. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2020 would be 23.5 and 16.5 million NT, down 15.8% and 21.7%, respectively, vs. 2019.
Finished steel import market share was an estimated 16% in September and is estimated at 18% over the first nine months of 2020.