Preliminary steel finished imports increase 5 percent in June

Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that the U.S. imported a total of 2,670,000 net tons (NT) of steel in June, including 2,110,000 NT of finished steel (down 10% and up 5%, respectively, from May final data). Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2011 would be 29.2 and 22.1 million NT, respectively, up 22% and 17% vs. 2010. Finished steel import market share in June was an estimated 24% and is 22% year-to date (YTD).