SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) announced that the total steel imports by the U.S. were approximately 9.185 million net tons in the year-to-date period through April this year. This is based on the monthly imports data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. The imports were down by 20.3%, compared with the same period in 2019.

The finished steel imports in Jan-Apr ’20 totalled 5.819 million net tons, which is down by 28.2% upon comparison with the prior year period. The finished steel import market share was estimated at 18% over the initial four-month period of the year. The largest offshore suppliers through April this year were South Korea, Japan and Germany.

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During the month of April 2020, the country recorded total and finished steel imports of 2.773 million net tons and 1.309 million net tons respectively. The total imports during the month surged higher by 58.2%, whereas the finished imports recorded decline by 13.5% upon comparison with March 2020 final imports.

The imports of Ingots and Billets and Slabs surged higher by 517%. The other finished steel products with notable increase in April are heavy structural shapes and reinforcing bars, whose imports were up by 57% and 54% respectively. On the contrary, imports of oil country goods declined the most, falling by 52.4% year-on-year.