Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports rose 18% from 228,000 short tons in November, 2022 to 268,000 tons last month. According to import licenses, the largest increase came from rebar, where imports rose from Egypt, Algeria, Canada, Spain, and Portugal.
Long products imports in the first eleven months of 2023 were 15% lower than in the same period last year with wire rod showing the highest volume and percentage decline (-539,000 tons and -33%).
US long products import licenses
January 2016 to November 2023
Short tons
‘Street still-life of piles of reinforcement bars’, in concrete and iron struts at the metro construction Vijzelgracht in Amsterdam by Fons Heijnsbroek from Amsterdam, Netherlands, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports fell 1% from 656,000 short tons in November, 2022 to 652,000 tons last month.
There was little change compared to last November because the significant rise in hot dip galvanized imports (approximately 36%) was offset by declines in cold rolled, hot rolled and cut plate imports. Hot dip galvanized imports rose from many countries including South Africa, South Korea, Brazil, and the UAE. Cold rolled imports fell from Mexico, Australia, and the Netherlands.
Flat products imports in the first eleven months of 2023 were 18% lower than in the same period last year with cold rolled -26%, hot dip galvanized -22%, hot rolled -16% but cut plate +20%.
US flat products import licenses
January 2016 to November 2023
Short tons
Budaörs, Hungary railway station, ‘Shmms’ special flat wagon. Four-axle special freight wagon suitable for transportation of sheet metal coils. Bogie: Y25Cs by Globetrotter19, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Episode 2 of the podcast The Green Steel Challenge was released yesterday featuring a fascinating interview with Stephen Montague, CEO at Midrex.
The podcasts are produced by the Korf Foundation and Kallanish Commodities and the discussion is all about how exactly we can deliver Green Steel. Other episodes will include Dave Stickler at Hybar, Sajjan Jindal at JSW Steel, and Giacomo Mareschi Danieli at Danieli Group. Recordings are ongoing.
Listen to leaders of the steel industry explain what they are doing to decarbonize.
It’s launch day! Check out the 1st episode of the new podcast The Green Steel Challenge including discussions with steel industry leaders about the path to steelmaking decarbonization. Don’t miss First River Consulting partner James Moss interviewing Edwin Basson and Asa Ekdahl.
Future episodes will include Stephen Montague from Midrex, David Stickler from Hybar, Sajjan Jindal from JSW Steel, and Giacomo Mareschi Danieli from The Danieli Group.
Worldsteel reported October crude steel production in China at 79.1 million metric tonnes, 1.8% lower than in October, 2022. Chinese production in the first ten months of 2023 was 1.1% higher than in the first ten months of 2022.
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show China’s net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) rose 65% compared to October last year. Net finished steel exports in the first ten months of 2023 were 45% higher than in the same period last year.
China monthly crude steel production
Thousand metric tonnes
Dalian, Liaoning, China: Dalian International Conference Center during the construction phase. Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas from Wikimedia Commons.
China produced 79.1 million tonnes in October, accounting for 53% of world output and falling 1.8% compared to October, 2022. World crude steel production outside China rose 0.8% following increases mainly in India (+15.1%), Russia (estimated 9.5%) and South Korea (+6.5%).
Crude steel production in the first ten months of 2023 was 0.2% lower than in the same period last year.
