Based on reported import licenses, US flat products imports increased 45% from 551,000 short tons in April, 2023 to 798,000 tons in April, 2024. Imports of all flat product categories increased, but the highest volume climb came from hot dip galvanized due to imports from Vietnam, Mexico, Germany, Canada, and South Korea. Cold roll imports were close to doubling on last April due to volumes from Australia, Canada, Vietnam, and Mexico.
US flat products imports in the first four months of 2024 were 26% higher than in the same period last year. Comparing the first four months of 2023 to 2024, imports rose for cut plate by 32%, for hot roll by 12%, for cold roll by 40%, and for hot dip galvanized by 38%.
Mario Arvedi Caldonazzo, CEO of Arvedi Group in Cremona, Italy, explains how a family-owned company in Northern Italy became not only the only real flat products minimill in Europe, but also the first steelmaker in the world to receive carbon neutral certification.
Worldsteel reported crude steel production in China at 88.3 million metric tonnes in March, 7.8% lower than in March, 2023. Chinese production in the first three months of 2024 was 4.0% lower than in the same period last year.
Data from China’s General Administration of Customs show net finished steel exports (exports minus imports) in March at 9.3 million tonnes, 29% higher than in March, 2023. Finished steel exports in Q1 2024 were 32% higher than in Q1 2023.
China produced 88.3 million tonnes in March, accounting for 55% of world output and declining 7.8% compared to March, 2023. Asian production outside China accounted for 19% of world output and rose 0.6% on last March, mainly due to a 7.8% increase in India and despite declines in South Korea (-9.5%) and Japan (-3.9%).
Other significant changes compared to last March include crude steel production increases in Turkey (+18.0%), and Germany (+8.4%).
Based on reported import licenses, US long products imports increased 49% from 244,000 short tons in March, 2023 to 365,000 tons in March, 2024. Imports of every product category rose, but the largest volume increases came from parallel flange sections, wire rod, and rebar.
US long products imports in the first three months of 2024 were 6% higher than in the same period last year. This small percentage increase was mainly the result of higher wire rod and parallel flange sections imports, which were partially offset by a decline in rebar imports.
US long products import licenses
January 2018 to March 2024
Short tons
Installing rebar and keyways in preparation of a concrete pour for the final approach structure in Harold Interlocking (New York City) by MTA Capital Construction Mega Projects, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Today The Green Steel Challenge podcast releases its 10th episode dedicated to steel industry decarbonisation with an outstanding interview with Anne-Marie Grossmann, Board Member at GMH Gruppe. The podcasts are produced by the Korf Foundation and Kallanish Commodities and the discussion is all about how exactly we can deliver Green Steel.
This particular podcast explores the challenges of decarbonising steelmaking where there is not enough green energy supply, and where government bureaucracy is slowing down investments in green energy (while at the same time funding large steelmakers who are replacing integrated plants with EAFs or electric smelters). Anne-Marie Grossmann also highlights how important it is to recruit talented, innovative people to overcome these barriers.
