Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported on Jan. 26  that the U.S. imported a total of 1,396,000 net tons (NT) of steel in December 2009, including 1,119,000 NT of finished steel (up 1 percent  and 11 percent, respectively, vs. November final data).

Total and finished steel imports for full year 2009 were 16.2 and 14.2 million NT, respectively, down 49 and 45 percent  vs. 2008, according to AISI.

 In a domestic steel market that remains severely depressed, finished steel import market share was an estimated 17 percent in December and an estimated 22 percent for the year as a whole — down only slightly from 2008 (24 percent) and the same as in 2007, AISI reports.

Key finished steel products with increases in December 2009 compared to November include wire rods (52 percent), hot rolled bars (39 percent), cut length plates (32 percent), oil country goods (24 percent) and standard pipe (21 percent).

For the original report from ANSI, including tables with U.S. imports of finished steel products by country of origin, U.S. imports of finished setel mill products in a 3-month rolling average, monthly imports of 2008 vs. 2009, and more, click here:2009 Finished Steel Imports Down 45%, But Estimated Annual Market Share At 22% .