Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported on Feb. 23 that the U.S. imported a total of 2,048,000 net tons (NT) of steel in January, including 1,632,000 NT of finished steel (up 10 percent and 8 percent, respectively, from December final data).

Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2011 would be 24.6 and 19.6 million NT, up 3 percent and 4 percent, respectively, vs. 2010. Finished steel import market share in January was an estimated 21 percent (same as in full-year 2010), up from 20 percent in December.

Key finished steel products with significant import increases in January 2011 compared to December are reinforcing bar (up 44 percent), wire rod (up 34 percent) and a variety of tubular products – including standard pipe, line pipe and oil country goods (up 38, 34, and 24 percent, respectively).