Over the first four months of 2017, including April SIMA data and March preliminary data, total and finished steel imports were 12.3Mt and 9.5Mt, up 23.6% and 13.2% respectively when compared with last year’s figures for the same period.

The estimated finished steel import market share in April was 28% and is 26% year-to-date (YTD).

Comparing April permits with March preliminary figures, specific finished imports of steel piling were up 100%, oil country goods up 31%, steel and strip all other metallic coatings up 29% and mechanical tubing up 27%. Sheets and strip hot-dipped galvanised was up 21%, hot rolled bar up 19%, heavy structural shapes up 18% and plates in coils up 11%.

Products with significant YTD increases versus the same period last year include oil country goods (up 210%); sheets and strip all other metallic coated (up 43%); cold-rolled sheet (up 42%); mechanical tubing (up 32%); tin plate (up 31%); standard pipe (up 30%); sheets and strip hot-dipped galvanised (up 26%); rebar (up 18%); and line pipe (up 12%).

Looking at big finished steel exporters to the USA in April, South Korea shipped 338kt, up 7% from March preliminary data; Turkey exported 284kt, down 5%; Japan, 126kt, down 7%; and Taiwan 123kt, up 36%. Germany exported 117kt, up 27%.

Over the first four months of 2017 South Korea was the largest offshore supplier (1.2Mt, down 1%) followed by Turkey (1Mt, up 27%) and Japan (506kt, down 14%). 

-- The 18th China(Guangzhou) Int’l Plate metal, Bar, Wire, Metal Processing &Setting Equipment Exhibition