Steel import permits down 11% in September;

Based on the Commerce Department’s most recent Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported today that steel import permit applications for the month of September totaled 2,221,000 NT. This was an 11% decrease from the 2,481,000 permit tons recorded in August and a 9% decrease from the August preliminary imports total of 2,440,000 NT. Import permit tonnage for finished steel in September was 1,659,000 NT, down 9% from the preliminary imports total of 1,813,000 NT in August. Year-to date (YTD) 2011 total and finished steel import permit tons would annualize at 29,236,000 NT and 22,212,000 NT, up 22% and 18%, respectively, versus the 23,929,000 NT and 18,857,000 NT imported in 2010. The estimated finished steel import market share in September was 20% and is 22% YTD.