AISI American Iron and Steel Institute : Releases December SIMA Imports Data; Import Market Share 28 percent in November

For Immediate Release
January 6, 2016

Washington, D.C. - Based on the Commerce Department's most recent Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that steel import permit applications for the month of December total 2,551,000 net tons (NT)*. This was a 5% decrease from the 2,681,000 permit tons recorded in November and an 8% increase from the November Preliminary imports total of 2,351,000 NT. Import permit tonnage for finished steel in December was 2,041,000, up 6% from the preliminary imports total of 1,921,000 in November. For the full year of 2015 (including December SIMA and November Preliminary), total and finished steel imports were 38,844,000 NT and 31,416,000 NT, respectively, down 12% and 7% from the same period in 2014. The estimated finished steel import market share in December was 28% and is 29% year-to-date (YTD).

Finished steel imports with large increases in December permits vs. the November Preliminary included bars light shapes (up 109%), wire rods (up 72%), hot rolled sheets (up 52%), heavy structural shapes (up 25%), hot rolled bars (up 22%) and cold rolled sheets (up 11%). Products with significant year-to-date (YTD) increases vs. the same period in 2014 include reinforcing bar (up 38%) and standard pipe (up 13%).

In December, the largest finished steel import permit applications for offshore countries were for South Korea (259,000 NT, down 13% from November Preliminary), Turkey (160,000 NT up 9%), Japan (120,000 NT, down 27%), China (95,000 NT, up 50%) and Brazil (100,000, down 20%). For full year 2015, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (4,861,000 NT, down 11% from 2014), Turkey (2,792,000 NT, up 27%) and China (2,333,000, down 27%).

* Monthly permit numbers provided to date may be understated, as entry documentation with the required import license number may be submitted up to ten days after imports have entered U.S. commerce.

Contact: Lisa Harrison
202.452.7115 / [e-mail]

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AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 19 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 125 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI's website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook or Twitter (@AISISteel).