AISI Releases August SIMA Imports Data

Finished Import Market Share Estimated at 21 Percent in August

Washington, D.C. - 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 August totaled 2,179,000 net tons (NT)*. This was a 5.1% decrease from the 2,295,000 permit tons recorded in July and a 10.0% decrease from the July final imports total of 2,421,000. Import permit tonnage for finished steel in August was 1,756,000, down 12.9% from the final imports total of 2,017,000 in July. For the first eight months of 2024 (including August SIMA permits and July final imports), total and finished steel imports were 19,940,000 NT and 15,474,000 NT, up 1.4% and 2.2%, respectively, from the same period in 2023. The estimated finished steel import market share in August was 21% and is 23% year-to-date (YTD).

Steel imports with large increases in August permits vs. July final imports include sheets and strip electrolytic galvanized (up 58%), structural pipe and tubing (up 25%), sheets and strip all other metallic coated (up 25%) and cold rolled strip (up 14%). Products with significant year-to-date (YTD) increases vs. the same period in 2023 include sheets and strip all other metallic coated (up 62%), sheets and strip hot dipped galvanized (up 42%), cold rolled sheets (29%), wire rods (up 28%) and heavy structural shapes (up 19%).

In August, the largest steel import permit applications were for Canada (476,000 NT, down 12% from July final), Brazil (391,000 NT, down 5%), South Korea (220,000 NT, up 8%), Mexico (176,000 NT, up 4%) and Vietnam (158,000 NT, up 123%). Through the first eight months of 2024, the largest suppliers were Canada (4,453,000 NT, down 6%), Brazil (3,284,000 NT, up 23%) and Mexico (2,281,000 NT, down 24%).

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Contact: Lisa Harrison

202.452.7115 / [email protected]

AISI serves as the voice of the American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI's membership is comprisedof integrated and electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers reflecting the production of both carbon and stainless steels which are critical to the everyday lives of all Americans - including national security, roads and bridges, the electrical grid, clean energy technologies and the automotive market. AISI also representsassociate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI's website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter(@AISISteel) or Instagram.