Preliminary steel Imports Increase 6% in May

Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the AISI reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,692,000 NT of steel in May, including 1,838,000 NT of finished steel. Up 6-and down 5-percent , respectively, from April’s final data. The annualized total and finished steel imports in 2011 would be 28.0 and 21.1 million NT, respectively, up 17- and 12 -percent compared to 2010. The finished steel import market share in May was an estimated 21-percent and is also 21-percent year-to date.