Based on reported import licenses, US flat steel products imports fell 28% year-on-year from 837,000 short tons in September 2018 to 600,000 tons in September this year. The decline was mainly due to lower hot rolled imports, with falling volumes from South Korea, the Netherlands, and Mexico. However, imports were lower for all flat products categories.
Based on January to August imports and September import licenses, flat products imports in the first nine months of 2019 were 22% lower than in the same period last year, with the highest volume decline coming from hot rolled, down 27% on last year, while hot dip galvanized imports fell 19%, cold rolled imports dropped 20%, and cut plate imports declined 6%.
SIMA US flat products import licenses
January 2013 to September 2019
Short tons
Image from Wikimedia Commons by LHOON from Mechelen, Belgium [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 87.3 million metric tonnes in August, 9.3% higher than in August 2018. Chinese output over the first eight months of 2019 was 9.4% higher than in the same period last year.
China’s General Administration of Customs reported Chinese net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in August at 4.0 million tonnes, 15.7% lower than in August 2018. Net exports in the first eight months of 2019 were 2.8% lower than in the first eight months of 2018.
China monthly crude steel production 2006 to 2019
Thousand metric tonnes
Image of Xihoumen Bridge in Zhoushan, China from Wikimedia Commons by Siyuwj [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]
China accounted for 56% of world production in August with output of 87.3 million tonnes, 9.3% higher than in August 2018. Asian production outside of China fell 2.3% due to declines in Japan (-7.8%), Thailand (-30.6%), South Korea (-2.6%), and Pakistan (-30.2%).
European Union production fell 2.2% compared to August 2018, with a significant 26.7% decline in Italy. In the Americas, US output rose 0.3%, Canadian production fell 8.0% , Mexican production fell 15.1%, and Brazilian output fell 13.4%. Other significant changes around the world include a 12.4% production decline in Turkey and a 4.0% drop in Russia.
The interior of the blast furnace at HBIS Tangsteel Image from Worldsteel Image Library by worldsteel / Shawn Koh
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports fell 18% from 279,000 short tons in July to 227,000 tons in August. Lower rebar imports were the main cause, with rebar imports declining from Italy, Spain and Algeria. Compared to August, 2018 long products imports, volumes fell 32%.
Based on January to July imports and August import licenses, long products imports in the first nine months of 2019 were 10% lower than in the same period last year with the highest volume declines coming from rebar (-14% on last year), merchant bar (-45%), and wire rod (-4%).
SIMA long products import licenses
January 2013 to August 2019
Short tons
Image of rebar lattice from Wikimedia Commons by Dig deeper [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
Based on reported import licenses, US flat steel products imports fell 5.4% from 666,000 short tons in July to 630,000 tons in August. The decline was mainly due to lower cut plate imports from South Korea though imports of all flat products categories declined.
Based on January to July imports and August import licenses, flat products imports in the first eight months of 2019 were 21% lower than in the same period last year, with the highest volume decline coming from hot rolled, down 25% on last year, while cold rolled imports fell 22%, hot dip galvanized imports fell 19%, and cut plate imports fell 2%.
SIMA US flat products import licenses
January 2013 to August 2019
Short tons
Image of galvanized coils at Leeco Steel Trading from Wikimedia Commons by Arosset [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 85.2 million metric tonnes in July, 5.0% higher than in July 2018. Chinese output over the first seven months of 2019 was 9.4% higher than in the same period last year.
China’s General Administration of Customs reported Chinese net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in July at 4.7 million tonnes, 2.7% lower than in July 2018. Net exports in the first seven months of 2019 were 1.0% lower than in the first seven months of 2018.
China monthly crude steel production 2006 to 2019
Thousand metric tonnes
Image of Tianjin Binhai International Airport from Wikimedia Commons by Amazingloong [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]
