Preliminary steel imports decline 7 percent in August

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,440,000 NT of steel in August, including 1,813,000 NT of finished steel, down 7 percent and 13 percent, respectively, from July final data. Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2011 would be 29.6 and 22.5 million NT, respectively, up 24 percent and 19 percent versus 2010. Finished steel import market share in August was an estimated 20 percent and is 22 percent year-to date.