Steel Data Report
Posted
08/11/2008
The following data is presented by specialty steel product line,
total stainless steel and total specialty steel:
Stainless-steel sheet/strip: Imports in YTD March were 128,418
tons (115,576 metric tons), a 19.2 percent increase compared to YTD
March 2007; U.S. consumption was 369,450 tons (332,505 metric
tons), a 7.4 percent decrease; and three-month import penetration
was 34.8 percent, a 7.8 percentage point increase from 2007. The
significant increase in imports of stainless-steel sheet and strip,
during a period of decreased consumption, was led by a surge in
Chinese imports. Chinese imports of sheet and strip increased by
47.2 percent in Q1 2008 over Q1 2007.
Stainless-steel plate: Imports in YTD March were 24,053 tons
(21,648 metric tons), a 31.5 percent decrease compared to YTD March
2007; U.S. consumption was 65,274 tons (58,747 metric tons), a 35.2
percent decrease; and threemonth import penetration was 36.8
percent, a 1.9 percentage point increase from 2007.
Stainless-steel bar: Imports in YTD March were 30,475 tons (27,428
metric tons), a 7.4 percent decrease compared to YTD March 2007;
U.S. consumption was 63,879 tons (57,491 metric tons), a 1.9
percent decrease; and three-month import penetration was 47.7
percent, a 2.8 percentage point decrease from 2007.
Stainless-steel rod: Imports in YTD March were 6,932 tons (6,239
metric tons), a 21.7 percent decrease compared to YTD March 2007;
U.S. consumption was 12,738 tons (11,464 metric tons), a 32.7
percent decrease; and three-month import penetration was 54.4
percent, a 7.6 percentage point increase from 2007.
Stainless-steel wire: Imports in YTD March were 10,283 tons (9,255
metric tons), a 10.6 percent decrease compared to YTD March 2007;
U.S. consumption was 18,045 tons (16,241 metric tons), a 16.9
percent decrease; and three-month import penetration was 57
percent, a 2.6 percentage point increase from 2007.
Imports of total stainless steel (comprising the foregoing product
lines) in YTD March were 200,161 tons (180,145 metric tons), a 2.1
percent increase compared to YTD March 2007; U.S. consumption was
529,387 tons (476,448 metric tons), a 12.5 percent decrease; and
three-month import penetration was 37.8 percent, a 5.4 percentage
point increase from 2007. (Source: Specialty Steel Industry of
North America)