AISI: Steel Import Permits Reported Robust Start to 2020

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The most recent Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data published by the Commerce Department suggests notable surge in steel import permit applications in the opening month of 2020, says the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).

Based on data, the steel import permit applications totaled 3.352 million net tons (NT) in January this year. This compares with 2.303 million NT permit tons recorded in December 2019. The permit applications recorded month-on-month surge by 45.6%. When matched with the preliminary imports in Dec ’19, the permit tonnage witnessed substantial jump by almost 116%.

The finished steel import permit tonnage totaled 1.559 million NT, higher by 15.7% from the preliminary imports of 1.347 million NT in December 2019. Finished steel accounted for nearly 17% market share in January 2020.

The import permit tonnage for reinforcing bars surged higher by 133%, compared to Dec ’19 preliminary imports. The other finished steel products to witness large increases were sheet and strip all other metallic coatings and heavy structural shapes, both of which recorded 108% surge. The largest finished steel import permit applications were from South Korea, followed by Japan and Turkey.

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