Based on reported import licenses, US flat steel products imports fell 16% from 911,000 short tons in May to 769,000 tons in June. The biggest volume decline came from hot rolled imports, with product from Canada showing a steep drop, particularly in plate in coil.
Flat products imports in the first six months of 2018 were 2% lower than in the same period last year, with declines in cold roll imports (-19%) and hot dip galvanized imports (-13%) offsetting an increase in hot rolled imports (+24%).
SIMA US flat products import licenses
January 2013 to June 2018
short tons
Production process of heavy plates at NLMK DanSteel (NLMK Group)
Photo from Worldsteel Association Image Library by worldsteel / Robert Kolykhalov, Image Ref. worldsteel_NLMK_denmark_coating-and-finishing_1.jpg
In celebration of Independence Day (& steel) in the US tomorrow, we’re sharing our profile of the US steel industry. Just click on the image below to see and download the full PDF report.
This impressive profile was made in our Steel Data Room. The underlying data will automatically update when new data is released from sources such as Worldsteel‘s Steel Statistical Yearbook. If you like it, see what great-looking steel industry charts you can create yourself by registering for a free Steel Data Room trial.
And enjoy those fireworks!
Worldsteel reported Chinese crude steel production at 81.1 million metric tonnes in May, 8.9% higher than in May 2017. Chinese output over the first five months of 2018 was 6.0% higher than in the same period last year.
Chinese net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in May were 5.7 million tonnes, 2.1% lower than in May 2017. Net exports in the first five months of 2018 were 19.7% lower than in the first five months of 2018.
China monthly crude steel production
January 2006 to May 2018, thousand metric tonnes
Photo by Federico Mazzini [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Worldsteel published May’s world crude steel production today. World crude steel output was 154.9 million metric tonnes, 6.6% higher than in May 2017. Crude steel production in the first five months of 2018 was 4.6% higher than in the same period last year.
China accounted for 52% of world output in May with production of a record 81.1 million tonnes, 8.9% higher than in May 2017. Asian output outside of China grew 4.3% following increases in India (+7.6%), Vietnam (+36.4%), South Korea (+3.0%) and Japan (+1.8%), but despite a decline in Taiwan (-14.4%). European Union production rose 1.8% compared to May last year, and NAFTA output rose 4.2% with the United States up 3.0%, Canada up 14.3%, and Mexico up 3.4%. Other notable changes include a 6% production increase in Russia, a 12.4% rise in Iran, and an 8.6% drop in Brazil.
Photo by Barcket [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
What’s going on in the North American steel industry? In the spreadsheet below, we keep track of steel industry capacity additions, closures, idlings, and restarts, together with links to news sources. It is organized by product: upstream, carbon long products, carbon flat roll, stainless & silicon, pipe & tube, downstream, and steel-related. Download it to see all the details. Let us know what you think, and as always, feel free to suggest additions or modifications.
Based on reported import licenses, US long steel products imports fell 10% from 427,000 short tons in April to 382,000 tons in May. This was mainly due to lower rebar imports from Turkey, Vietnam and Russia, together with lower parallel flange sections imports from Taiwan and South Korea.
Long products imports in the first five months of 2018 were 24% lower than in the same period last year, led by a 31% drop in wire rod imports and a 28% fall in rebar imports.
SIMA US long products imports licenses
2012 to 2018
short tons
Badische Stahlwerke, Kehl wire rod coils
Photo from Worldsteel Association Image Library by worldsteel / Gregor Schlaeger, Image Ref: worldsteel / Gregor Schlaeger
